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Japan’s new flagship H3 rocket fails to put geolocation satellite into orbit
The H3 rocket's second-stage engine cut off early, preventing Michibiki 5 from reaching orbit and delaying Japan's goal of a seven-satellite navigation network by 2026.
- On Dec. 22, 2025, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency launched an H3 rocket from Tanegashima Space Center, Kagoshima Prefecture, but it failed to deliver the Michibiki No. 5 satellite into orbit.
- Operational glitches and a five-day-earlier abort forced schedule changes ahead of Monday's launch attempt, with the launch rescheduled from Dec. 7 after abnormalities and H3's mixed reliability from one botched debut and six successful flights.
- JAXA reported the second-stage engine cut off prematurely shortly after liftoff, and Masashi Okada said satellite separation could not be confirmed as officials analyse flight data.
- Officials called the mishap "extremely regrettable" and a setback for the H3 flagship that replaced the near-perfect H-2A, while Jun Kondo said the government set up a task force to investigate and regain credibility.
- Planned expansion to a seven-satellite network by March 2026 and later to 11 satellites means this failure could delay redundancy goals for the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System covering close to 100 percent of Japan.
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Japan’s H3 suffers second-stage anomaly, QZS-5 satellite lost
Japan’s flagship H3 rocket suffered an issue with its second stage late Sunday resulting in the loss of the Michibiki 5 (QZS-5) navigation satellite. The post Japan’s H3 suffers second-stage anomaly, QZS-5 satellite lost appeared first on SpaceNews.
·Mojave, United States
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources40
Leaning Left15Leaning Right4Center14Last UpdatedBias Distribution46% Left
Bias Distribution
- 46% of the sources lean Left
46% Left
L 46%
C 42%
12%
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