Japan launches second military communications satellite into orbit

Japan has launched a new military communications satellite into orbit using its own H3 launch vehicle.

Here's What We Know

Bloomberg cited the Japanese space agency JAXA as saying that during the fourth launch, the H3 rocket took off from the Tanegashima Cosmodrome in southwestern Japan.

Everything went according to plan, and the satellite was successfully placed into geostationary orbit, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said.

The satellite, named Kirameki 3, is Japan's second military communications satellite operating in the X-band. Its task is to provide the military with a reliable channel for exchanging information necessary for planning operations and commanding troops. The first satellite of this series was successfully launched in January 2017.

Another Japanese X-band communication system is deployed on the commercial satellite Superbird-B3 as a satellite payload.

X-band communication satellites are less sensitive to weather conditions, which allows for stable communication.

"The three-satellite X-band communications system will provide high-speed data transmission and communication between the Japanese land, sea and air defence forces," said Major General Yasuhiro Kato, Chief of the Joint Staff Systems Division.

The Agency for Procurement, Technology and Logistics reported that Kirameki 3 will begin operations by the end of March 2025, after being transferred to a geostationary orbit over Japan and undergoing tests.

The launch of this satellite, originally scheduled for 20 October, was postponed four times due to technical issues and weather conditions. This was the third consecutive successful flight of the H3 rocket after an unsuccessful debut launch in 2023, when the rocket had to be destroyed along with the payload.

The H3 rocket was developed by JAXA in collaboration with main contractor Mitsubishi Heavy Industries as a replacement for the current main H-2A rocket, which is scheduled to be retired after two more flights.

Source: Bloomberg