Today’s launch of Japan’s new space rocket ended in failure, only 15 minutes after the launch, the flight director issued a command to destroy the rocket.
Japan’s new space rocket, H3, was launched on Tuesday from the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan, but a malfunction caused the mission to fail, CNN reports.
When the rocket was destroyed, it was out of sight, so do not expect an explosion in the video above.
– Gadgetadvisor.com
The rocket carried an advanced satellite
According to Japan’s space agency JAXA, a destruction command was issued because there was no possibility of completing the mission.
The rocket carried an advanced satellite for land observation, ALOS-3, a satellite for mapping and image production, which, according to the Japanese space agency, was intended to be a key tool in future disaster management efforts.
The ALOS-3 satellite was expected to cover all land areas worldwide, not just in Japan, according to JAXA.
Second failed launch attempt
Tuesday’s failed launch of H3 was the second failed attempt. On February 17, two secondary booster motors on the side of the rocket did not ignite and H3 could not lift off.
JAXA has identified H3 as the successor to Japan’s H-2A and H-2B rockets and has previously praised H3’s expected ability to perform both government and commercial missions.
Commercial products from Japan’s industry
According to JAXA, H3 would be more economical than other launch vehicles because it uses commercial products from domestic industries, not products that are exclusive to space.
“We are aiming to create an operational world where Japanese industrial base can be underpinned by steadily launching the H3 six times or so annually for 20 years,” JAXA said, according to CNN.