Japan uses its new flagship H3 rocket to successfully launch an advanced Earth monitoring satellite

Japan successfully launched an improved Earth observation satellite aimed at disaster relief and security on Monday after it was launched aboard a new H3 rocket.

The H3 rocket No. 3 launched from the Tanegashima Space Center in southwest Japan, released its payload about 16 minutes later, and entered the target orbit as planned, Japanese space agency JAXA said in a livestream.

The Advanced Land Observing Satellite-4 is primarily tasked with observing Earth and collecting data for disaster response and mapping, including volcanic and seismic activity and other land movements. It can also monitor military activities such as missile launches using infrared sensors developed by the Defense Ministry.

JAXA President Hiroshi Yamakawa hailed Monday’s successful launch as a “big first step” in ensuring Japan’s access to space and international competitiveness. “I believe the two successful flights in a row would help gain trust from in and outside the country.”

JAXA’s H3 project manager, Makoto Arita, called the mission “almost a perfect success.”

ALOS-4 is the successor to the current ALOS-2 and will be able to observe a much wider area. Japan will initially operate both systems.

The launch is the third for the H3 system, following a successful Feb. 17 launch and a shockingly failed debut flight a year ago, in which the rocket carrying the payload (a satellite that was supposed to be ALOS-3) had to be destroyed.

Japan considers a stable, commercially competitive space transportation capability key to its space program and national security.

The H3 launch system is being developed by JAXA and its primary contractor Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to replace the H-2A launch vehicle, which is scheduled to be retired after two more flights. Eventually, MHI plans to take over JAXA’s H3 production and launches in an effort to make the technology economically viable by reducing the launch cost to around half that of the H-2A.

“We will continue to improve our success record and gain trust from our customers,” stated Koji Shimura, the H3 project manager of MHI’s defense and space segment.