Japan's H3 rocket returns to flight, carries six satellites

Japan's H3 rocket successfully returned to flight on Friday, June 12, 2026, with the debut of a new three-engine configuration. The launch from the Tanegashima Space Center delivered six small satellites to orbit, marking a critical recovery for the country's flagship launch vehicle following a failure last December.

The H3 lifted off at 9:53 a.m. local time. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) confirmed the rocket flew as planned, with its second stage reaching the intended orbit and all six payloads separating successfully. The mission was the eighth flight overall for the H3 but the first for the H3-30S variant, which uses three LE-9 engines in its first stage without any solid rocket boosters. This configuration is designed as a lower-cost option to enhance the rocket's commercial competitiveness.

The successful launch follows an investigation into the failure of the previous H3 mission on December 11, 2025. That flight, carrying the Michibiki 5 navigation satellite, did not achieve orbit. JAXA's investigation determined that unusual shocks during payload fairing separation damaged both the satellite and its adapter. Parts of the damaged adapter then punctured...