The most successful launch of Japan’s H3 rocket and deployment of a military communication satellite

After two test launches, the Japanese-made H3 rocket was successfully launched in its third attempt. This rocket, which was developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JESA), was launched from the Tanegashima Space Center on … (exact date).

According to Tekna Technology Media Astronomy News Service, the main cargo of this launch was Kiramaki 3 military communication satellite or DSN-3, which was successfully placed in Geosynchronous Geostationary Orbit (GEO). The GEO orbit is a circular orbit approximately 36,000 kilometers from the earth’s surface, and the satellites placed in this orbit move at the speed of the earth’s rotation and appear fixed from the point of view of the earth observer.

The Kiramaki 3 satellite is designed to establish military communications in the X-band (part of the high-frequency microwave spectrum) and will be operated by DSN. This satellite will play an important role in strengthening the communication capabilities of the Japanese armed forces. The H3 missile development project was started with the aim of replacing the old H-2A missile. After several years of delay, the first launch of this missile failed in March 2023. But with the efforts of Japanese engineers, the technical problems were solved and the next two launches were successfully carried out. In the second launch, the H3 rocket carried a 5,900-pound test model into Earth orbit and deployed two other small Earth observation satellites.

The success of the recent H3 rocket launches shows Japan’s significant progress in space technology. This achievement will allow Japan to launch heavier and more complex satellites in the future and play a more active role in international space missions.