Japan achieved a significant milestone with the successful launch of the H-3 rocket from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture. This launch marked the first time the H-3 rocket, designed to carry geostationary satellites, was utilized and deployed the Kirameki-3 satellite into orbit. The H-3 rocket is a successor to the larger H-2A rocket and was a collaboration between the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd.
Following an initial failed launch, the subsequent second, third, and fourth launches of the H-3 rocket have been successful, highlighting Japan's advancements in space technology. The Defense Ministry will take charge of maintaining and operating the newly launched Kirameki-3 satellite, which comes at a development and operation cost of approximately 70 billion yen. Positioned in a geostationary orbit about 36,000 kilometers above the equator, the satellite will synchronize with the Earth's rotation, appearing stationary when observed from the planet.
To reach the geostationary orbit, the rocket must first enter a long elliptical orbit known as a geostationary transfer orbit by connecting altitudes near Earth to the targeted geostationary orbit. The previously launched Daichi-4 satellite orbits at a lower altitude of 628 kilometers, showcasing different functionalities based on their orbit positioning. During the latest launch, the Kirameki-3 satellite separated from the rocket at a similar altitude, but was propelled into an elliptical orbit using its engines and fuel to maintain the necessary speed for its intended orbital path.