New Japanese Rocket Is Destroyed During First Test Flight to Space
New York TimesDec 23, 2022
The Facts
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) stated on Tuesday that an attempt to launch its next-generation H3 space rocket failed, with controllers issuing a destruct command 15 minutes after liftoff as there was no possibility of achieving the mission.
This comes as the 57-meter tall H3 rocket's second-stage engine failed to ignite upon reaching space after being launched from JAXA's Tanegashima Space Center.
The Spin
Narrative A
JAXA's launch was a complete failure, and the H3 manufacturer, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, felt the short-term effects when its stock fell 1.8% in morning trade. More importantly, it will also have a long-term impact on Japan's future space policy, business, and technological competitiveness. Hopes were high that the new rocket would give the country a foothold in the increasingly competitive satellite launching business, but they have been dashed.
Narrative B
Tuesday's failed launch was undoubtedly a setback, but not a fatal one. As soon as Japan has located the problem, the next step will be to prove that the H3 is a reliable, user-friendly, and competitive vehicle for delivering satellites. While there's still a way to go, the H3 will potentially play a major role in the country's efforts to join others on the global space stage.
