Japan's H3 rocket self-destructs with its state-of-the-art ALOS-3 satellite

Japan's H3 rocket once again failed to complete its mission. The rocket was destroyed a few minutes after launch.

Here's What We Know

H3 is a state-of-the-art Japanese rocket. It is supposed to compete with SpaceX's Falcon 9 and replace H-IIA, which will make its last flight next year. The first launch of H3 was scheduled for the middle of last month, but didn't take place due to a malfunction in the electrical system that powers the propulsion system.

Consequently, the launch was postponed until March. The Japanese rocket can be equipped with four solid-propellant boosters and is capable of launching a 4 tonnes payload into a sun-synchronous orbit or 6.5 tonnes into a geostationary transfer orbit, respectively.

On March 7, the dual booster version was used. As part of the mission, the rocket was supposed to send the ultramodern Advance Land Observing Satellite-3 (ALOS-3) into a sun-synchronous orbit. However, H3 was destroyed along with the spacecraft.

The rocket successfully launched from the Tanegashima Space Centre site. However, after only 5 minutes and 27 seconds, the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) was unable to launch the second stage. The agency then issued a command for H3 to self-destruct.

Source: space.com