Japan’s H3 rocket, the country’s first new medium-lift launcher in three decades, failed to lift off Friday after two secondary booster engines mounted on the side of the spacecraft failed to ignite.
During the live-streamed event, the H3’s main engine shut down after the launch countdown reached zero, bringing the 57-metre (187 ft) rocket with its payload, the ALOS-3 land observation satellite, to its launch pad at Tanegashima Spaceport. left. , which is also equipped with infrared sensors designed to detect North Korean ballistic missiles.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) said it was investigating the cause of the apparent failure.
Japan built the H3 to enhance its independent access to space and its chances of capturing a larger share of the global launch market from rivals including Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
It is designed to put government and commercial satellites into orbit and supplies to the International Space Station. As part of Tokyo’s deepening cooperation with the United States in space, the latter variant will also carry cargo to the Gateway Lunar Space Station, which NASA plans to build as part of its program to return people to the Moon. is making
The United States has promised Japan a seat on one of its crewed lunar missions.