Japan's H3 rocket successfully launches advanced land observing Satellite-4

Japan's new H3 rocket achieved its third successful flight on June 30, launching the Advanced Land Observing Satellite-4 (ALOS-4), also known as DAICHI-4, from the Tanegashima Space Center.

According to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), ALOS-4 was deployed into low Earth orbit as planned about 16 minutes after liftoff, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

Developed by JAXA and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, the two-stage H3 rocket is set to become Japan's main medium-lift launch vehicle, replacing the H-2A, which is expected to retire later this year after over 20 years of service.

The development of the H3 rocket faced several challenges. Originally scheduled for its first launch in 2020, the debut was delayed until March 2023 due to engine development issues and other problems. The initial launch attempt failed when the upper-stage engine did not ignite, resulting in the loss of its payload, the Advanced Land Observing Satellite-3 (ALOS-3, or DAICHI-3).

The H3 successfully reached orbit on its second flight in February 2024, carrying a 5,900-pound (2,600-kilogram) mass simulator and deploying two small Earth-observation satellites, CE-SAT-IE and TIRSAT.

The 3-ton ALOS-4 is an advanced successor to Japan's ALOS-2 satellite, which has been using synthetic aperture radar to study Earth since its 2014 launch. According to JAXA officials, ALOS-4 aims to achieve both high resolution and a broader observation swath.

Unlike optical sensors, radar images can be captured day and night and in all weather conditions, making ALOS-4 ideal for monitoring disaster-hit areas, forests, and sea ice.