Japan recently celebrated a successful launch of its fourth H-3 rocket from the Tanegashima Space Center, marking a significant milestone in the country's space exploration efforts. The launch, which took place at 3:48 p.m., saw the deployment of the government's X-band defense communications satellite, Kirameki-3, into orbit. This satellite, crucial for command and control of Self-Defense Forces units and other important communications, will be maintained and operated by the Defense Ministry.
The H-3 rocket, serving as the successor to the H-2A rocket, is a product of the collaborative efforts of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. Following an initial failed launch, subsequent efforts with the second, third, and now fourth launches have all proven successful. The latest launch saw Kirameki-3 being placed in a geostationary orbit approximately 36,000 kilometers above the equator, synchronizing its movement with the Earth's rotation, making it appear stationary when viewed from the ground.