Japan’s H3 Rocket Fails

The H3 rocket of Japan, Japan’s new flagship rocket, was unable to make what would have been its maiden flight this Friday, due to an apparent failure in its complementary boosters, stated JAXA, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.

Japan’s H3 Rocket…

Has been jointly developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and JAXA. The Japan H3 rocket was scheduled to take off from the Tanegashima Space Center, in Kagoshima (southwest), at 10:37 in the morning, this Friday (1:37 GMT).

However, minutes after the scheduled takeoff time of the H3 rocket, its boosters failed to ignite.

At That Time…

Columns of smoke could be seen coming out of the base of Japan’s H3 Rocket. 

Although the main engine ignited, the SRB-3 booster rockets on both sides of the rocket did not. Since it was not yet launched, it could not be judged as a failure. So said a JAXA spokesperson. 

Same Day Launch Stated, But…

Although the spokesperson initially indicated that a same-day launch would be possible of the H3 rocket Japan in its current state, in subsequent statements, JAXA indicated that it would have to be delayed, without providing further details.

Japan’s H3 Rocket was originally scheduled to launch at the end of March 2021, but the date was pushed back by about two years, due to problems with the newly developed LE-9 engine, from its first stage and replacement parts.

Japan’s H3 Rocket…

Is designed to replace the H2-A and H2-B models, used by JAXA, to put satellites into orbit. It is the first space rocket to use in its first phase, an engine (LE-9), that works with an expander cycle, a system that improves efficiency in the use of fuel.Japan’s H3 Rocket carries the DAICHI-3 Earth observation satellite, which will be used to observe the situation in disaster-affected areas.