## Japan Successfully Launches New H-3 Rocket
On February 17th, 2023, Japan's space agency successfully launched its new H-3 flagship rocket. The launch took place at 9:22 a.m. from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture.
The H-3 rocket carried two satellites and a dummy payload to confirm the rocket's capabilities. The dummy payload will be released when the H-3 reaches its intended orbit at an altitude of 675 kilometers.
This launch marks a significant milestone for Japan's space program. The H-3 is designed to replace the aging H-2A rocket, with only two more launches planned for the H-2A.
The H-3 was developed jointly by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. JAXA aimed to design a high-capability rocket at a low cost, aiming to keep the cost of a single launch to around 5 billion yen ($33.3 million), half the cost of the H-2A.
With its successful launch, the H-3 has a busy schedule ahead. It will be used for JAXA's Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission and to send resupplies to the International Space Station on the new HTV-X cargo spacecraft.
The H-3 Launch Vehicle No. 2 was originally scheduled for a February 15th launch, but weather conditions delayed the launch by two days.