TOKYO, March 7 (BNA): Japan’s new medium-lift rocket failed on its maiden voyage into space Tuesday after the launcher’s second-stage engine did not fire as planned, in a blow to its efforts to lower the cost of access to space. .
A live broadcast by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) showed that the 57-meter-high H3 rocket, Japan’s first new model in three decades, lifted off unhindered from Tanegashima Cosmodrome.
But upon reaching space, the rocket’s second-stage engine failed to ignite, forcing mission officials to manually destroy the craft 14 minutes into flight, Reuters reported.
JAXA said it was determined that the missile could not complete its mission, so the order to destroy was sent.
The failed attempt followed a failed launch last month, and debris could have fallen into the ocean east of the Philippines.
Keiko Nagaoka, Minister of Science and Technology, said in a statement that the government had set up a task force to investigate the “deeply regrettable” failure.
“This will have a serious impact on Japan’s future space policy, space business, and technological competitiveness,” said Hirotaka Watanabe, a professor at Osaka University with expertise in space policy.
NAA