Japan successfully launched its most powerful flagship rocket, the H3, on Sunday, carrying a newly developed uncrewed cargo spacecraft for its inaugural mission to deliver supplies to the International Space Station (ISS). The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) reported that the HTV-X1 spacecraft lifted off aboard H3 No. 7 from the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan and confirmed its entry into the planned orbit 14 minutes after launch.
The spacecraft successfully separated from the rocket and reached its intended orbit, according to JAXA. If all goes as planned, it is expected to arrive at the ISS in a few days, where Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui, currently aboard the station, will use a robotic arm to capture the spacecraft in the early hours of Thursday.
The HTV-X represents the successor to JAXA”s uncrewed H-II Transfer Vehicle, known as Kounotori, which completed nine missions to the ISS between 2009 and 2020. This new cargo vehicle has the capacity to transport a larger payload and can supply power during flight, allowing for the transport of laboratory samples that require low-temperature storage.
Designed to dock with the ISS for up to six months, the HTV-X will deliver supplies and collect waste from the station, followed by technical missions during an orbital flight after leaving the ISS, this time for three months. The successful launch also marks a debut for the more powerful version of the H3 rocket, which features four boosters and a larger payload compartment at the top, according to officials.
The president of JAXA, Hiroshi Yamakawa, described the launch as “a significant step forward,” showcasing Japan”s capability to deliver supplies to space, which serves as “the foundation for autonomous space activity.” Iwao Igarashi, head of the Space Business Department at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, responsible for developing the H3 in collaboration with JAXA and operating rocket launches, noted that Japan”s track record of punctual launches and precision in delivering payloads demonstrates their ability to meet diverse customer needs. He also mentioned plans to expand their launch facility.
The H3 rocket is intended to replace the beloved H-2A rocket, which completed its final flight in June. The H3 is designed to be more cost-competitive in the global space market. So far, the H3 has successfully completed six consecutive flights following a failed debut attempt in 2023, when the rocket had to be destroyed along with its payload.
Japan views stable and commercially competitive space transportation capacity as crucial to its space program and national security.
