JAXA successfully launches H3 rocket with Michibiki No. 7 satellite

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) successfully launched the H3 rocket No. 9 from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture on Tuesday morning. The launch, which had previously been delayed due to Typhoon No. 13, carried the Michibiki No. 7 positioning satellite into its planned orbit approximately 30 minutes after liftoff.

The Michibiki satellite serves as Japan’s version of GPS, designed to complement the U.S. GPS network by providing high-precision positioning of up to several centimeters. Beyond navigation for smartphones and car navigation systems, the satellite is capable of distributing emergency information during natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis.

This successful mission marks a significant recovery for the H3 program, which faced a launch failure last December. This is the second consecutive successful launch for the H3 rocket following the success of the No. 6 unit in June. JAXA aims to eventually establish a system of 11 Michibiki satellites to ensure constant positioning capabilities without reliance on foreign networks.