TOKYO (AFP) – Japan’s second attempt to launch its next-generation H3 rocket failed after liftoff yesterday, with the spacecraft forced to self-destruct after the command centre concluded the mission could not succeed.
The failure is a blow for Japan’s space agency JAXA, which has billed the rocket as a flexible and cost-effective new flagship.
Its launch had already been delayed by several years, and then a first attempt last month failed when the solid rocket boosters did not ignite. Yesterday’s launch from the Tanegashima Space Centre in southwestern Japan initially appeared to be a success, with the rocket lifting off.
The first-stage separation appeared to go as planned, but signs of trouble soon emerged.
“It seems that the velocity is coming down,” announcers on the JAXA live feed said while the rocket was about 300 kilometres above ground.
The command centre then announced: “The second stage engine ignition has not been confirmed yet, we continue to confirm the situation.”
The live feed was briefly halted, with a message reading, “We are currently checking the status. Please wait.”
When it resumed, the command centre confirmed the bad news.
“Destruct command has been transmitted to H3 because there was no possibility of achieving the mission.”
The rocket was not going to reach its planned trajectory without confirmation of the second stage engine, JAXA Vice President Yasuhiro Funo told a news conference.
Debris from the destroyed rocket is believed to have fallen in waters east of the Philippines, he said.
The cause of the failure will be investigated, said JAXA President Hiroshi Yamakawa.
“When a failure like this happens, it is important that we show how quickly we can move and show our findings with transparency,” he said.
“My responsibility is to focus on discovering the cause and make efforts to restore confidence in our rockets.”
The H3 rocket was developed for more frequent commercial launches as well as better cost efficiency and reliability and has been mooted as a possible competitor to Space X’s Falcon 9.
“The H3 rocket is a very important rocket for not only the government of Japan but also for private sector businesses to access space,” Yamakawa said.
