Japan Postpones H2A Rocket Launch after H3 Failure

According to the country's space agency, Japan will now launch an H2A rocket in August rather than May as initially planned.

The H3 rocket, which was forced to self-destruct shortly after launch in March, shares components in its second-stage engines, which is why the decision was taken.

The 57-meter H3 rocket took off as planned from the Tanegashima Space Center launch site in Kagoshima Prefecture, southern Japan, according to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), but was instructed to self-destruct minutes later when the second-stage engine failed to ignite.

According to individuals acquainted with the situation, the H2A rocket, which has a reputation for dependability and is currently planned to operate until its 50th flight, may be impacted if investigation into the H3 accident takes longer than expected.

The SLIM lunar lander, created by JAXA, will be carried by the launch, which is intended to test technologies for accurate landings on the Moon.

The launch, which was initially scheduled for May, would need to happen in August or later, according to the JAXA, to ensure that the spacecraft enters the proper orbit to reach the lunar surface.

The Japanese H3 rocket's malfunction, which occurred during its first launch in March, was most likely brought on by an excessive electrical current that cut off the power to the rocket's second-stage engine, the agency said.