A Mitsubishi Heavy Industries staff member stands next to the top of the first stage of a H3 rocket, inside the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ Nagoya Aerospace Systems Works Tobishima Plant in Tobishima, Aichi prefecture Thursday, March 21, 2024. Japan’s space agency and its prime contractor said Thursday they hope to be able to forge a profitable launch business with their new H3 rocket after its first successful flight last month in an increasingly competitive market dominated by Space X.
“Today, the commercial market has a big demand for rockets, and there is a substantial shortage of rockets," he said, standing next the rocket's second stage at a news conference. “Space X is virtually dominating the market right now, but I believe there are high expectations of our role as an alternative.”
The H3 rocket’s first and second stages were shown to the media before their planned shipment later this week to the Tanegashima Space Center in southwesternfor final assembly with the main engines and a fairing. When combined, the rocket will be 57 meters long.