Japan successfully launched a new H3 rocket today, after a failed attempt last year.
According to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, the second H3 was launched from the Tanegashima Space Center in southwestern Japan at 9:22 a.m. local time.
In March last year, Japan’s flagship H3 No1 rocket was ordered to self-destruct minutes after launch after its second stage engine failed to ignite.
The Japanese lunar lander was also successfully launched into space last September after several delays.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida praised the successful launch of the domestically produced rocket.
“We are very happy to see such great achievements in the space field after the successful landing of SLIM on the Moon. I would like to express my respect for the efforts of everyone involved during all these years and hope that Japanese rockets will continue to steadily accumulate achievements,” announced Kishida on platform X.
The H3 was developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
Photo ©️ Kyodo/Reuters
