“Japan’s H3 Rocket: Aiming for Commercial Success in a Competitive Space Market”
Japan’s H3 Rocket s space agency and its prime contractor expressed optimism on Thursday regarding the prospects of their new H3 rocket, aiming to establish a profitable launch business following its inaugural successful flight last month. The launch industry has become increasingly competitive, primarily dominated by SpaceX.
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Japan’s H3 Rocket
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) have collaborated on the development of the H3 as a successor to the H-2A rocket, which boasted a 98% success rate. However, its high launch costs hindered its competitiveness in the global market.
Mayuki Niitsu, MHI’s H3 rocket project manager, outlined plans for a minimum of six launches annually to cater to the escalating demand for communication, observation, and security satellites. He emphasized the significant shortage of rockets in the commercial market and highlighted the potential of the H3 to serve as a viable alternative to SpaceX.
Despite a failed debut launch last year, the H3 achieved orbit successfully on February 17, deploying two small observation satellites. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries aims to assume production and launch responsibilities for the H3 from JAXA, with the goal of making it commercially viable.
Ahead of their scheduled shipment to the Tanegashima Space Center for final assembly, the H3 rocket’s first and second stages were showcased to the media. The rocket, standing at 57 meters (187 feet) in length upon completion, is designed to accommodate larger payloads at approximately half the launch cost of the H-2A, making it more globally competitive.
While the H3’s launch cost was initially misreported at 50 billion yen ($330 million), the correct figure stands at 5 billion yen ($33 million). Mitsubishi Heavy Industries aims to further enhance price competitiveness after approximately twelve launches, leveraging flexible launch schedules and enhanced client satisfaction as potential avenues for differentiation.
In January, a H-2A rocket successfully deployed a spy satellite into orbit, while JAXA’s unmanned spacecraft SLIM achieved the world’s first “pinpoint” moon landing shortly thereafter.
