Japan’s next-generation space rocket crashes before launch
- February 17, 2023
- 0
The launch of the H3 rocket, Japan’s first new medium-altitude launch vehicle in three decades, failed Friday as the two secondary booster motors attached to the side of
The launch of the H3 rocket, Japan’s first new medium-altitude launch vehicle in three decades, failed Friday as the two secondary booster motors attached to the side of the spacecraft failed to ignite.
This was reported by Ukrinform with reference to Reuters.
During the live broadcast, after the launch countdown reached zero, H3’s main engine shut down and the 57-metre-high rocket remained on the launch pad at the Tanegashima Cosmodrome with its payload ALOS-3 surveillance satellite. The satellite is equipped with an infrared sensor designed to detect North Korean ballistic missiles.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) said it was investigating the cause of the failure.
Video: Science News
The agency writes that Japan is producing the H3 to expand its independent access to space. The flagship rocket is designed to launch government and commercial satellites into orbit and deliver cargo to the International Space Station.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, developer and launch manager of the H3, hopes the rocket will boost its space targets.
As reported by Ukrinform, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has scheduled the first launch of the new H3 launch vehicle on February 12. However, due to adverse weather conditions at the launch site, the launch was postponed to Friday, February 17.
Photo: “KYODO”
Source: Ukrinform
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