JAPAN ANNOUNCES SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH OF NEXT-GEN H3 ROCKET

Japan's space agency, JAXA, announced the successful launch of its new flagship rocket, the H3 from Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima, southern Japan, on February 17, 2024. This next-generation H3 rocket has been seen as a potential competitor to SpaceX's Falcon 9, and could one day be used to deliver cargo to bases on the Moon.

 

Key details of this mission:

1. The launch marks the 3rd attempt after 2 previous failed attempts and years of delays.
2. The H3 rocket is flexible and cost-effective and was put into orbit after its launching.
3. Japan has achieved a significant milestone in space exploration by becoming the 5th country to successfully soft-land on the Moon.
4. Developed jointly by JAXA and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, the H3 is the successor to the H-IIA launch system, which debuted in 2001.
5. The H3 is designed for high flexibility, reliability, and cost performance and will maintain Japan's autonomous access to space, according to JAXA.

Timeline of this mission:  The 1st H3 launch in February 2023 was aborted due to ignition issues. The 2nd attempt in March 2023 resulted in a destruct command being issued shortly after blast-off due to technical problems. Improvements were subsequently made to the ignition system of the H3, which carries 2 small satellites. One of the microsatellites is intended to contribute to disaster prevention by taking photos and videos. The other is equipped with a sensor to detect infrared rays and is intended to detect the operation conditions of factories on the ground. Separation of the microsatellites was confirmed. JAXA will keep analyzing the sequences after successfully putting the rocket into orbit.

H3 will be “an all-rounder”:

• H3 will be an all-rounder, able to launch satellites into Earth orbit, serve as a supply vehicle for space stations, and go to the Moon.
• The successful launch on 17 February strengthened JAXA's reputation after a series of failures, including with a different rocket, a solid-fuel model called Epsilon-6.
• Japan succeeded in landing its SLIM spacecraft nicknamed "Moon Sniper" on the lunar surface last month, although the craft's solar panels were facing the wrong way.

In conclusion, Japan intends to enhance its space exploration capabilities and compete with major players. The H3 rocket, with its powerful first-stage engine, is critical to this effort. Unlike the reusable Falcon 9, the H3 is expendable but requires more thrust. Scientists have highlighted the importance of H3's world-first technology and described it as a cost-effective solution with the potential to revolutionize solar system exploration.

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