It doesn’t seem like the Japanese space program is yet up to par with its American and European counterparts.
We live in one of the most interesting times from the point of view of space exploration. Entities such as ESA or NASA are continuously exploring the possibilities that current technology offers us to achieve a superior knowledge of what is beyond the planet. On this occasion, the JAXA H3 rocket has had a successful launch a few hours ago, although his outcome has been fatalhaving to activate the self destruct command moments after takeoff.
Worst possible start for Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s H3 rocket
Just a few seconds has lasted the joy in the facilities of the Tanegashima Space Center, according to information published by the Reuters news agency. It seems that the 57 meter rocket high, with which the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency, which is also part of the ISS, intended to compete with private companies such as SpaceX, completed the take off without major problems. This quickly changed, as the second stage engine failed to start and the commanding officers had to make the decision to forward the self destruct command to the system on board the rocket to destroy it 14 minutes after launch.
JAXA has sent a self destroy command to its H3 rocket. https://t.co/96fyX2y4T5
—Jacob Malana (@jacobmalana) March 7, 2023
Despite the fact that Japan has advanced technology in other industrial sectors, the aerospace segment does not seem to be advancing at the rate predicted years ago. By the way, the rocket makerthe Japanese company Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd, has not done No kind of statement at the moment about the engine failure. However, her own japanese space agency has sent a releaseas a result of what happened, in which he explains that:
It was decided that the rocket would not be able to complete the mission, so the destroy command was sent.
This rocket is a clear step back from the Japanese space industry, both for the image offered to the rest of the world, and for the change of plans that will have to arise in the coming days. He H3 carried the ALOS-3 satellite on boardwhich in addition to acting as an observer of natural disasters from space, included a sensor that could be capable of detecting ballistic missile launches from North Korea. hirotaka watanabeprofessor at Osaka University, it states that:
This will have a serious impact on future space policies, space business and technological competitiveness.