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.
Mayuki Niitsu, MHI’s H3 rocket project manager, said it plans at least six launches a year to meet rapidly growing demand for communication, observation and security satellites. An H3 rocket successfully reached orbit and released two small observation satellites on Feb. 17 following a failed debut launch last year in which the second-stage engine did not ignite.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 southwestern Japan for final assembly with the main engines and a fairing. When combined, the rocket will be 57 meters long.
That, however, is still considered expensive, and MHI officials say they hope to achieve better price competitiveness after about a dozen launches.