Latest news with #JAXA
The Star
5 hours ago
- Science
- The Star
Japan's final H2A rocket successfully lifts off, ends 24-year career
A Japanese H2A rocket, carrying a satellite for greenhouse gas and water cycle observation, lifts off from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on June 29, 2025. - Photo: Kyodo TANEGASHIMA (Japan), June 29 (Bernama-Kyodo) -- Japan successfully launched its 50th and final H2A liquid-fuel rocket from a southwestern Japanese island on Sunday (June 29), drawing the curtain on the series' 24-year career in support of the country's space development programme, Kyodo News reported. The H2A rocket, developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, has been replaced as the country's mainstay space vehicle by the H3 rocket, which offers a lower launch service price. The final H2A rocket, which blasted off from Tanegashima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture at 1.33 am (local time), placed in orbit a government satellite for observing greenhouse gas levels and monitoring climate change. The satellite separated from the rocket at an altitude of around 670 kilometres near the equator and deployed its solar panels, with its operation confirmed by JAXA. "I was more nervous than ever about the launch and feel like I'm still dreaming. We achieved our long-cherished goal of a 98 per cent success rate," said Keiji Suzuki, a Mitsubishi Heavy official in charge of the rocket launch. At a park near the Tanegashima Space Centre, around 1,300 people gathered early Sunday to watch the launch, cheering as the rocket ascended in the darkness. "I was impressed by the loud sound and light. I'm excited to see the next H3 rocket," said 7-year-old Hikari Nagoe. Since 2001, the H2A series has supported the country's aerospace exploration by sending satellites and probes into space, raising its reliability over time. Its long career was rocky at times. The No. 6 rocket failed in 2003 when a booster did not separate, and the ground crew ordered its destruction. It was discovered later that a damaged jet nozzle was the cause of the breakdown. It took one year and three months until the succeeding No. 7 flew successfully after alterations were made. Sunday's launch was postponed by Mitsubishi Heavy from June 24 due to an equipment abnormality. The H3 rocket, also developed by Mitsubishi Heavy and JAXA, is expected to help the country gain a foothold in the satellite-launch business that has become increasingly competitive with the rise of SpaceX in the United States. The H3 rocket debuted in March 2023, but its maiden flight ended with a self-destruct order minutes after lift-off due to the failure of the second-stage engine to ignite. The succeeding launches, including the latest No. 5 in February, have been successful. - Bernama-Kyodo
New Indian Express
12 hours ago
- Science
- New Indian Express
Japan launches climate change monitoring satellite on mainstay H2A rocket's last flight
TOKYO: Japan on Sunday successfully launched a climate change monitoring satellite on its mainstay H-2A rocket, which made its final flight before it is replaced by a new flagship model designed to be more cost competitive in the global space market. The H-2A rocket lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Center in southwestern Japan, carrying the GOSAT-GW satellite as part of Tokyo's effort to mitigate climate change. The satellite was safely separated from the rocket and released into a planned orbit about 16 minutes later. Scientists and space officials at the control room exchanged hugs and handshakes to celebrate the successful launch, which was delayed by several days due to a malfunctioning of the rocket's electrical systems. Keiji Suzuki, a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries official in charge of rocket launch operations, said he was more nervous than ever for the final mission of the rocket, which has been his career work. 'I've spent my entire life at work not to drop H-2A rocket... All I can say is I'm so relieved." Sunday's launch marked the 50th and final flight for the H-2A, which has served as Japan's mainstay rocket to carry satellites and probes into space with a near-perfect record since its 2001 debut. After its retirement, it will be fully replaced by the H3, which is already in operation, as Japan's new main flagship. 'It is a deeply emotional moment for all of us at JAXA as a developer,' Hiroshi Yamakawa, president of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, told a news conference. The GOSAT-GW, or Global Observing SATellite for Greenhouse gases and Water cycle, is a third series in the mission to monitor carbon, methane and other greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere. Within one year, it will start distributing data such as sea surface temperature and precipitation with much higher resolution to users around the world, including the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, officials said. The liquid-fuel H-2A rocket with two solid-fuel sub-rockets developed by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency has so far had 49 flights with a 98% success record, with only one failure in 2003. Mitsubishi Heavy has provided its launch operation since 2007. H-2A successfully carried into space many satellites and probes, including Japan's moon lander SLIM last year, and a popular Hayabusa2 spacecraft in 2014 to reach a distant asteroid, contributing to the country's space programs. The completion of H-2A lets him put more resources into further development of the H3, Suzuki said. Japan sees a stable, commercially competitive space transport capability as key to its space program and national security, and has been developing two new flagship rockets as successors of the H-2A series — the larger H3 with Mitsubishi, and a much smaller Epsilon system with the aerospace unit of the heavy machinery maker IHI. It hopes to cater to diverse customer needs and improve its position in the growing satellite launch market. The H3, is designed to carry larger payloads than the H-2A at about half its launch cost to be globally competitive, though officials say more cost reduction efforts are needed to achieve better price competitiveness in the global market. The H3 has made four consecutive successful flights after a failed debut attempt in 2023, when the rocket had to be destroyed with its payload.
The Mainichi
14 hours ago
- Science
- The Mainichi
Japan's final H2A rocket successfully lifts off, ends 24-yr career
TANEGASHIMA, Kagoshima (Kyodo) -- Japan successfully launched its 50th and final H2A liquid-fuel rocket from a southwestern Japan island on Sunday, drawing the curtain on the series' 24-year career in support of the country's space development program. The H2A rocket, developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, has been replaced as the country's mainstay space vehicle by the H3 rocket, which offers a lower launch service price. The final H2A rocket, which blasted off from Tanegashima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture at 1:33 a.m., placed in orbit a government satellite for observing greenhouse gas levels and monitoring climate change. The satellite separated from the rocket at an altitude of around 670 kilometers near the equator and deployed its solar panels, with its operation confirmed by JAXA. "I was more nervous than ever about the launch and feel like I'm still dreaming. We achieved our long-cherished goal of a 98 percent success rate," said Keiji Suzuki, a Mitsubishi Heavy official in charge of the rocket launch. At a park near the Tanegashima Space Center, around 1,300 people gathered early Sunday to watch the launch, cheering as the rocket ascended in the darkness. "I was impressed by the loud sound and light. I'm excited to see the next H3 rocket," said 7-year-old Hikari Nagoe. Since 2001, the H2A series has supported the country's aerospace exploration by sending satellites and probes into space, raising its reliability over time. Its long career was rocky at times. The No. 6 rocket failed in 2003 when a booster did not separate and the ground crew ordered its destruction. It was discovered later that a damaged jet nozzle was the cause of the breakdown. It took one year and three months until the succeeding No. 7 flew successfully after alterations were made. Sunday's launch was postponed by Mitsubishi Heavy from June 24 due to an equipment abnormality. The H3 rocket, also developed by Mitsubishi Heavy and JAXA, is expected to help the country gain a foothold in the satellite-launch business that has become increasingly competitive with the rise of SpaceX of the United States. The H3 rocket debuted in March 2023 but its maiden flight ended with a self-destruct order minutes after liftoff due to the failure of the second-stage engine to ignite. The succeeding launches, including the latest No. 5 in February, have been successful.
Kyodo News
14 hours ago
- Science
- Kyodo News
Japan's final H2A rocket successfully lifts off, ends 24-yr career
KYODO NEWS - 2 hours ago - 10:08 | All, Japan Japan successfully launched its 50th and final H2A liquid-fuel rocket from a southwestern Japan island on Sunday, drawing the curtain on the series' 24-year career in support of the country's space development program. The H2A rocket, developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, has been replaced as the country's mainstay space vehicle by the H3 rocket, which offers a lower launch service price. The final H2A rocket, which blasted off from Tanegashima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture at 1:33 a.m., placed in orbit a government satellite for observing greenhouse gas levels and monitoring climate change. The satellite separated from the rocket at an altitude of around 670 kilometers near the equator and deployed its solar panels, with its operation confirmed by JAXA. "I was more nervous than ever about the launch and feel like I'm still dreaming. We achieved our long-cherished goal of a 98 percent success rate," said Keiji Suzuki, a Mitsubishi Heavy official in charge of the rocket launch. At a park near the Tanegashima Space Center, around 1,300 people gathered early Sunday to watch the launch, cheering as the rocket ascended in the darkness. "I was impressed by the loud sound and light. I'm excited to see the next H3 rocket," said 7-year-old Hikari Nagoe. Since 2001, the H2A series has supported the country's aerospace exploration by sending satellites and probes into space, raising its reliability over time. Its long career was rocky at times. The No. 6 rocket failed in 2003 when a booster did not separate and the ground crew ordered its destruction. It was discovered later that a damaged jet nozzle was the cause of the breakdown. It took one year and three months until the succeeding No. 7 flew successfully after alterations were made. Sunday's launch was postponed by Mitsubishi Heavy from June 24 due to an equipment abnormality. The H3 rocket, also developed by Mitsubishi Heavy and JAXA, is expected to help the country gain a foothold in the satellite-launch business that has become increasingly competitive with the rise of SpaceX of the United States. The H3 rocket debuted in March 2023 but its maiden flight ended with a self-destruct order minutes after liftoff due to the failure of the second-stage engine to ignite. The succeeding launches, including the latest No. 5 in February, have been successful. Related coverage: Japan ispace fails in bid for 1st Moon landing by Asian private firm Astronaut Onishi blasts off on mission as 3rd Japanese to lead ISS Japan firm's rover ends mission on Moon, gives up surface exploration
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Japan launches GOSAT-GW on 50th and final liftoff of the H-2A rocket (video)
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Japan launched a dual-purpose satellite to monitor sea temperature and greenhouse gases. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) on Saturday (June 28) conducted its 50th and final launch of the H-2A rocket, taking the GOSAT-GW dual-purpose satellite to space. The mission lifted off from Yoshinobu Launch Complex (LP-1) at the Tenegashima Space Center in Japan at 12:33 p.m. EDT (1633 GMT; 1:33 a.m. June 29, local time in Japan). The Greenhouse Gas and Water Cycle Observation Satellite (GOSAT-GW) is the latest in Japan's efforts to observe changes in water cycles and greenhouse gases. GOSAT-GW has joined its predecessors in Earth orbit: GCOM-W2, which launched in 2012 and is known as "SHIZUKU," and GOSAT-1, which launched in 2009 and is known as "IBUKI." GOSAT-GW is equipped with two main instruments. The first is known as the Advanced Microwave Radiometer (AMSR), and will measure water cycles and fluctuations in sea surface temperatures. The second is the Greenhouse Gases Observation Sensor (TANSO), and will monitor components such as carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere to measure climate change. Related Stories: — Japan launches navigation satellite on nation's 1st mission of 2025 (video) — New Japanese rocket engine explodes during testing for 2nd time in 16 months — Japan's wooden satellite deploys from ISS to demonstrate cleaner spacecraft tech (photo) Japan's H-2A rocket, built for JAXA by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, was capable of launching payloads into a geostationary orbit around Earth and to orbit around the moon. It also launched the Akatsuki spacecraft to study Venus in 2010, though the spacecraft failed to properly enter Venusian orbit. H-2A first launched in 2001. During its nearly 25 years in operation, the rocket experienced only a single launch failure, giving the vehicle a 98% success rate. After 50 missions, the launch vehicle is now being retired to make way for Japan's H3 rocket, which offers comparable performance at a lower cost.
