Japan’s flagship H3 rocket set for launch

The test flight will be a key test for Japan’s space development following the failure of H3’s debut flight last year, when the rocket had to be destroyed and its payload was lost


ALOS-3

March 7, 2023: H3 ordered to self-destruct after second engine ignitor fails, resulting in loss of ALOS-3 Advanced Land Observing Satellite

Payload: Dummy satellite – VEP-4 – plus two small satellites

H3 ROCKET

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

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

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

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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