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Japan destroys next-generation H3 rocket midflight after launch attempt fails

  • The failure is a blow for Japan’s space agency JAXA, which has billed the rocket as a flexible and cost-effective new flagship
  • Tuesday’s launch was carrying the ALOS-3 observation satellite, which was intended to help with disaster management and other monitoring

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A public relation officer of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) explains the launch failure of the H3 rocket to members of the media at Tanegashima Space Centre on Tuesday. Photo: Kyodo via Reuters
Agence France-Presse
Japan’s second attempt to launch its next-generation H3 rocket failed after lift-off on Tuesday, with the space agency issuing a destruct command after concluding the mission could not succeed.

The failure is a blow for Japan’s space agency JAXA, which has billed the rocket as a flexible and cost-effective new flagship.

But the first launch was delayed by several years, and then failed on a first attempt last month when the solid rocket boosters did not ignite.

Tuesday’s launch from the Tanegashima Space Center in southwestern Japan initially appeared to be a success, with the rocket lifting off at 10:37am local time.

An H3 rocket carrying a land observation satellite lifts off from Tanegashima Space Centre on the Japanese island of Tanegashima on Tuesday. The launch initially appeared to be a success. Photo: Kyodo via Reuters
An H3 rocket carrying a land observation satellite lifts off from Tanegashima Space Centre on the Japanese island of Tanegashima on Tuesday. The launch initially appeared to be a success. Photo: Kyodo via Reuters

The first stage separation appeared to go as planned, but upon reaching space, the rocket’s second-stage engine failed to ignite, forcing mission officials to manually destroy the vehicle.

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