Japan Successfully Launches H3 Rocket, First Without Solid Booster

Japan has successfully launched the H3 rocket with a new configuration that is lighter and cheaper. Citing a Kyodo News report, Friday, June 12, this is Japan's first launch using only liquid fuel engines, without solid rocket boosters.

The H3 rocket No. 6 took off from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture on Friday at around 09.55 local time. The launch was delayed by two days due to bad weather forecasts at the site.

The rocket uses three liquid-fueled main engines. This type of engine uses liquid-shaped fuel and oxidizer. H3 No. 6 does not use a solid rocket booster, which is an additional solid-fuel booster that is usually used to provide a large boost at the beginning of the launch.

JAXA said this configuration is lighter and cheaper than other H3 types. The success of this mission also complements the three H3 rocket configurations developed by Japan.

In the launch, H3 brought six small satellites into orbit. Among them is Umitsubame owned by the Tokyo Institute of Science which will use a high-performance camera to observe the ocean, as well as Shiraito owned by Shizuoka University to test space debris cleaning technology.

This success is important because the H3 program has stumbled. The launch of H3 in December failed to put the satellite into orbit. The first flight in March 2023 also failed after the second stage engine did not light up, so JAXA had to send a self-destruct command for safety.

The launch of H3 No. 6 was also delayed after a problem was found in the engine combustion test in July last year.

With this success, Japan at least got one answer that the simpler H3 configuration could fly and work as planned.