Makoto Arita, a senior official of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), informed reporters at the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture about the postponement of the scheduled launch of a satellite on the H3 rocket. The decision to delay the launch was made due to the prediction of rain and thunder on the night when the rocket was supposed to be moved to the launch site.
The satellite, ALOS-4, is designed for various purposes including Earth observation, disaster response, mapmaking, and monitoring military activities, such as missile launches. This satellite, equipped with an infrared sensor developed by the Defense Ministry, is a successor to the current ALOS-2 and offers enhanced capabilities for wider area observation. The H3 rocket had its successful launch on February 17 after a failed debut flight a year earlier that resulted in the destruction of the rocket along with its payload, intended to be the ALOS-3 satellite.
The development of the H3 rocket by JAXA and its main contractor Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is part of Japan's strategy to maintain a stable and competitive space transport capability for both commercial purposes and national security. The H3 rocket is envisioned as a successor to the existing H-2A and aims to reduce launch costs significantly to enhance commercial viability in the space industry.