Japan’s H3 maiden launch fails

Japan’s space agency intentionally destroyed an H3 rocket moments into its launch after the ignition for the second stage failed. The launcher was carrying an optical imaging satellite


H3-22S rocket

Payload: ALOS-3 Advanced Land Observing Satellite

Solid-fuel boosters: Two boosters each provide 2,158 kilonewtons of thrust

Second Stage LE-5B-3 engine: Uses liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellants

Lift-off: Five minutes, 27 seconds into flight, command is sent to rocket for stage separation and second-stage ignition. Following ignition failure, mission control issues destruct command

First stage: Powered by twin LE-9 liquid hydrogen and oxygen-fuelled engines

LE-9 engines: With thrust of 1,471 kilonewtons each, rocket can lift 6,500kg payload into geostationary orbit


Source: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency 
Picture: JAXA 
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