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Japanese H3 rocket fails to launch, losing navigation satellite

By Thomson Reuters Dec 22, 2025 | 12:04 AM

TOKYO, Dec 22 (Reuters) – A Japanese H3 rocket ‍could not put a government-run QZS-5 navigation satellite into its ‌intended orbit ‌after engine trouble, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said on Monday.

Japan’s ​flagship H3 rocket, ‍built by ​Mitsubishi Heavy ​Industries, failed in ‍its inaugural launch in 2023 but has succeeded in six ‍subsequent flights. A rocket launch failure in ‍Japan ‍typically leads ​to months ​of ⁠investigations that could ‌delay the national space programme.

(Reporting by Kantaro Komiya; Editing by Christian ⁠Schmollinger)