Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency experts interrupted the flight of the new H3 rocket, which had earlier lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture. The event was broadcast on JAXA’s official channel on YouTube and later summarized by the agency in its public communications.
Initial reports indicated that the newest heavy class launch vehicle was underway when the mission signal was halted. The official brief noted that predicting a successful outcome was not possible, and the second stage engine did not establish a reliable ignition. The announcer on the feed confirmed that a destruction signal was issued to the missile as a precautionary measure.
This intervention follows a prior attempt on February 17 that ended in a ground launch failure, preventing lift off. The timeline also recalls the original plan set for 2020, which faced delays due to vibration detected in the main engine and subsequent troubleshooting efforts.
Standing at 63 meters in length, the H3 represents Japan’s largest launch vehicle and operates on liquid fuel propulsion. The vehicle is designed to advance Japan’s capabilities in space access and research, aligning with ongoing national space objectives documented by the agency and corroborated by public statements from JAXA and affiliated authorities. For context, public updates note that while the mission encountered an abort, the broader program continues to progress with engineering and risk management practices consistently applied across launches. Source attribution: JAXA press briefings and official communications.