(Caught by yahoo news.com)

Japan rocket

Japan’s new H3 rocket successfully launched the ALOS-4 satellite, improving its capabilities for military and earth observation monitoring.

On Monday, July 1, 2024, Japan’s H3 rocket carrying the satellite Daichi 4 takes out from the launch pad at Tanegashima Space Center in Tanegashima, Kagoshima prefecture, southern Japan. Monday saw the launch of Japan’s space agency’s new flagship H3 rocket, which carried an enhanced surveillance satellite for security and disaster response. (AP via Kyodo News) Tokyo’s Associated Press (AP) Launched on a new flagship H3 rocket on Monday, Japan successfully released an updated Earth observation satellite for security and disaster response.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, said during a livestream that the H3 No. 3 rocket launched from the Tanegashima Space Center on an island in southwest Japan and released its payload approximately 16 minutes later, placing it into a specified orbit as intended.

The primary duties of the Advanced Land Observation Satellite, or ALOS-4, are Earth observation and data collecting for mapping purposes, especially for volcanic and seismic activity as well as other land movements and disaster response. With the Defense Ministry’s infrared sensor, it can also keep an eye on military operations like missile launches.

The successful launch on Monday was hailed by JAXA President Hiroshi Yamakawa as “a big first step” toward guaranteeing Japan’s access to space and global competitiveness.

 “I believe the two successful flights in a row would help gain trust from in and outside the country.”

Makoto Arita, the H3 Project Manager for JAXA, declared the mission to be “nearly a perfect success.”

The present ALOS-2 is replaced by the ALOS-4, which has a far larger field of view. Japan will run both for the foreseeable future.

The launch was the third of the H3 system, following the successful one on February 17 and the surprisingly unsuccessful first flight a year prior, in which the rocket’s payload—a satellite that was intended to be the ALOS-3—had to be destroyed.

For Japan, both its space program and national security depend on having a reliable, economically viable space transportation capacity.

The H3 launch system, which is being developed by JAXA and its primary contractor, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, is intended to replace the agency’s existing mainstay, the H-2A.which is set to retire after two more flights. MHI will eventually take over H3 production and launches from JAXA and hopes to make it commercially viable by cutting the launch cost to about half of the H-2A.

“We will continue to improve our success record and gain trust from our customers,” said Koji Shimura, H3 project manager at MHI’s defense and space segment.