The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) officially announced that the eighth launch of its H-3 rocket failed due to a technical problem with the second-stage engine, preventing the rocket from reaching its intended orbit. This announcement presents a new challenge to Japan's space ambitions as it seeks to strengthen its position in the global space market.
Details of the incident and the loss of the satellite
According to Japan's public broadcaster NHK, the rocket launched from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, shortly before 11:00 AM local time. The rocket carried the Michibiki-5 satellite, a vital component of the Japanese version of the Global Positioning System (GPS).
The agency explained in its statement that the rocket's second-stage engine failed to burn earlier than planned in the launch schedule. As a result of this technical malfunction, the rocket was unable to gain the necessary speed and altitude to place the satellite into its designated orbit, leading to mission failure. JAXA confirmed that it will immediately form a specialized committee to review the data and analyze the root causes of this problem to ensure it does not recur.
The strategic importance of the H-3 missile
The H-3 rocket is the cornerstone of Japan's next-generation space program, developed to replace the long-serving H-2A (H-IIA) rocket. With this new model, Japan aims to provide a flexible and highly reliable means of space transportation, with a strong focus on reducing launch costs to enhance its competitiveness against major commercial companies like SpaceX.
This failure is the second of its kind for the H-3 rocket, as its first launch attempt in March 2023 met a similar fate, putting additional pressure on the agency’s engineers and planners to prove the reliability of this new rocket system, which Tokyo is counting on to ensure its independent access to space.
The Mitchipke system and the effect of loss
The mission aimed to deploy the Michibiki No. 5 satellite, part of the Quasi-Azimuth Satellite System (QZSS). This system plays a crucial role in improving the accuracy of the Global Positioning System (GPS) in Japan and the Asia-Pacific region, providing highly accurate data essential for modern applications such as autonomous driving, drones, and natural disaster management.
The loss of this satellite is not only a financial loss, but it may also lead to a delay in the timetable for completing the satellite system that Japan aims to expand to include seven satellites in the near future, to ensure continuous coverage independent of foreign systems.
