Japan successfully launches navigation satellite on new flagship H3 rocket

Japan’s space agency said today that it successfully launched a navigation satellite on its new flagship H3 rocket. The satellite was launched as the country seeks to have a more precise location positioning system of its own.

The H3 rocket carrying the Michibiki 6 satellite lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Centre on a southwestern Japanese island.

Officials said it is expected to reach its targeted



geospatial orbit in about two weeks.

Japan currently has the quasi-zenith satellite system, or QZSS, with four satellites for a regional navigation system that first went into operation in 2018. The Michibiki 6 will be the fifth of its network.

Today’s launch, delayed by a day due to the weather, was the fourth consecutive successful flight for the H3 system.