Science & Technology
Japan’s flagship H3 rocket ‘self-destructs’ after launch fails
(Last Updated On: March 7, 2023)
Japan’s flagship H3 rocket lifted off for the first time on Tuesday from a space center on the southeast coast of Tanegashima, but was ordered to self-destruct minutes later, the country’s space agency said.
“A destruct command has been transmitted to H3 around 10:52 a.m. (0152GMT), because there was no possibility of achieving the mission,” said Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) in a brief statement.
On Feb. 17, the H3 rocket also failed to lift off from a space center despite having its main engine ignited.
The long-awaited launch attempt from the Tanegashima Space Center had been plagued by delays, and the latest failure is yet another setback for Japan’s space strategy, Anadola agency reported.