2024-02-18 02:10:55
Satellite launch business begins in earnest
Japan successfully launched its new flagship large rocket, H3, on the 17th. The photo shows Japan’s H3 rocket being launched that day. Provided by Yonhap News
Japan successfully launched its new flagship large rocket, H3. Japan is also expected to enter the satellite launch business in earnest, where competition is becoming fiercer, thanks to the achievements made just one year following the launch failure. In particular, there are predictions that Japan’s role will increase in the US-led international lunar exploration project ‘Artemis’.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) launched H3 Unit 2 from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, Kyushu, at 9:22 am on the 17th.
Afterwards, JAXA Chairman Hiroshi Yamakawa said in a press conference, “We confirmed that the second stage engine of the H3 rocket, which failed in March last year, burned as planned, and that Unit 2 flew as planned and put the aircraft into the designated orbit.”
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida congratulated the successful launch of H3 on his social network service (SNS)
Initially, JAXA planned to mount the Earth observation satellite ‘Daichi 4’ on H3 Unit 2. However, considering the loss of the Daiichi 3 satellite due to the launch failure of Unit 1, a mock satellite with a similar weight and center of gravity to Daiichi 3 was loaded instead.
Two micro-satellites were also carried on H3 Unit 2. JAXA announced that it had also confirmed the successful separation of a simulated satellite and two microsatellites.
H3 is a two-stage liquid fuel rocket developed by JAXA and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to enable Japan to enter the satellite launch business. The rocket is 57 meters long and weighs regarding 422 tons. It is the successor model to the existing flagship H2A.
Previously, the launch of H3 Unit 1 in March last year failed due to a defect in the second-stage engine ignition system. JAXA investigated flight data and manufacturing records to determine the cause of Unit 1’s failure and strengthened the insulation of parts. Parts that were not needed were excluded from the aircraft.
Compared to the existing rocket, H2A, H3 has 40% more propulsion per engine. The launch cost is also half that, regarding 5 billion yen (regarding 44.5 billion won). Except for Unit 6, which failed in November 2003, the H2A rocket successfully launched all 48 rockets, reaching a success rate of 98%. However, launch costs a lot of money, and related facilities are aging, so only 50 units will be launched.
Kyodo News said, “H3 will establish itself as the main rocket that will take charge of Japan’s space transportation for the next 20 years,” and added, “If full-scale participation in the satellite launch project, which is in demand worldwide, is expected, the U.S.-led international lunar exploration project ‘Artemis’ will be launched.” “It appears that it will also be used in ,” he pointed out.
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