OperationalMitsubishi Heavy Industries / JAXAFirst Launch: 2023-03-07
H3
Japan's next-generation flagship launch vehicle, succeeding the H-IIA/H-IIB, used for ISS resupply (HTV-X) and Earth observation satellites.
SpaceStats Reliability & Flight Record
TOTAL LAUNCHES
7
Orbital missions
SUCCESSFUL
5
2 failures
SUCCESS RATE
71.4%
LANDINGS
0
Expendable Vehicle
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries / JAXAFeatured Photography
H3 Launch Vehicle Flight 2 Successful Maiden Orbit
JAXA
Technical & Propulsion Specifications
Operator: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries / JAXAVehicle Dimensions & Mass
- Overall Height
- 63 m
- Body Diameter
- 5.27 m
- Gross Lift-off Mass
- 574 t
- Stages Count
- 2
- Fairing Diameter
- 5.2 m
Stage 1 (Booster)
- Recovery Mode
- Expendable
Stage 2 & Capacities
- LEO Capacity
- 16.5 t
- GTO Capacity
- 6.5 t
- Cost per Launch
- $50,000,000
- LEO Price / kg
- ~$3,030 / kg
Fleet Deployment & Economics Suite
Model Satellite Constellations or Payload Charters with H3
Calculate multi-plane Walker Delta fleet costs, fairing dispenser limits, launch cadence timelines, and single-mission rideshare economics.
High-Resolution Photo Gallery & Media
3 photos & renders of H3
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Liftoff2024-02-17H3 Launch Vehicle Flight 2 Successful Maiden Orbit
Japan's flagship next-generation H3 launch vehicle successfully reaches orbit on Flight 2 from Tanegashima.
JAXA
Source 
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Pad2021-03-17H3 Rocket at Tanegashima Yoshinobu Complex
H3 vehicle undergoing cryogenic propellant loading tests on Launch Pad 2 at Tanegashima Space Center.
JAXA / MHI
Source 
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Engine2020-09-02LE-9 Expander Bleed Cycle Liquid Hydrogen Engine
JAXA LE-9 expander-bleed cycle liquid hydrogen engine firing with 1,471 kN of thrust at Kakuda Space Center.
JAXA
Source SpaceStats Launch Manifest & Database
2 mission records cataloged in database
| Flight / Mission | Orbit | Launch Date | Pad / Location | Booster / Landing | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3-24 | Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) | Mars | Oct 19, 2026 | Yoshinobu Launch Complex LP-2 Tanegashima Space Center, Japan | B1080 ASDS | GO | Details → |
H3-22 | Michibiki 7 (QZS-7) Michibiki 7 (QZS-7) | GTO | Aug 10, 2026 | Yoshinobu Launch Complex LP-2 Tanegashima Space Center, Japan | B1080 ASDS | GO | Details → |