The successful launch of Japan¡¯s next-generation H3 rocket on Saturday has given a much-needed morale boost to officials and engineers involved in its development, following a series of setbacks in recent years.
The H3 ¡ª which replaces the H-IIA as the nation¡¯s flagship rocket ¡ª will be used in a wide range of government-funded missions in areas such as national security, scientific research and weather forecasting.
Plans include launches for the earth observation satellite ALOS-4, cargo transfer spacecraft headed to the International Space Station, the Japan-India lunar mission and the Mars sample return mission, as well as even more spy satellites to monitor North Korea and natural disasters.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.