The new H3 rocket, launched by Japan’s space agency and its prime contractor, is expected to be profitable following its successful flight last month. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) plans to launch at least six rockets annually to meet the increasing demand for communication, observation, and security satellites.
The H3 rocket is designed as a successor to the H-2A rocket, which had a high launch cost and was less competitive globally. With the H3’s successful flight, MHI aims to take over production and launches from JAXA and make it a commercially viable option. The first and second stages of the rocket were displayed to the media before being shipped to the Tanegashima Space Center for final assembly.
As a competitive alternative to Space X, the H3 rocket is aimed at carrying larger payloads at a lower cost than the H-2A. However, MHI officials acknowledge that the launch cost is still considered expensive and hope to improve price competitiveness after several launches. They mention providing flexible launch schedules and meeting clients’ needs as ways to improve competitiveness.
In recent achievements, a H-2A rocket successfully launched a spy satellite, and JAXA’s spacecraft SLIM made a historic “pinpoint” moon landing.
