Japan has launched its H2A rocket for the final time, marking a shift to its next-generation H3 programme.
Japan’s flagship H2A rocket was launched for the 50th and final time early on Sunday, closing over two decades of reliable service and signalling a transition to the country’s new H3 launch system.
The launch took place at around 1:33 a.m. local time from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture. It carried the "Ibuki-GW" satellite, developed by Japan's Ministry of the Environment, the National Institute for Environmental Studies, and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The satellite will monitor greenhouse gases from space to support Japan’s environmental policies and international climate commitments.
Introduced in 2001, the H2A rocket has been central to Japan's space ambitions, deploying a range of satellites for communication, observation, and national security. Except for one failure in 2003, all other launches succeeded, showcasing the reliability and precision of Japan’s space engineering.
With H2A retired, Japan is turning its focus to the next-generation H3 rocket, designed to reduce launch costs and enhance competitiveness in the growing global space sector. The H3 will also support upcoming commercial satellite missions and Japan’s expanded goals for lunar exploration.
The shift to H3 is seen as a strategic move to maintain Japan’s presence in space technology while meeting demands for more affordable and frequent launches in a competitive market dominated by companies like SpaceX.
Germany's parliament approved on Thursday the nation's first annual budget since sweeping reforms to loosen fiscal rules were passed earlier this year...
Ukrainian troops and engineers will train their Polish counterparts in a joint group on countering drones, Ukraine's defence minister Denys Shmyhal sa...
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received Marta Kos, the European Commissioner for Enlargement, in Baku on 18 September....
The Ambassador of Afghanistan to Russia, Ghulam Hassan, has met with Zamir Kabulov, Moscow’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan, to discuss deepening tie...
FBI chief Kash Patel told the U.S. Senate on Tuesday there was “no credible information” that Jeffrey Epstein trafficked women or underage girls t...
OpenAI has sharply raised its projected cash burn through 2029 to $115 billion, according to The Information. This marks an $80 billion increase from previous estimates, as the company ramps up spending to fuel the AI behind its ChatGPT chatbot.
A Chinese research team has unveiled a prototype washing machine designed for use in space, joining a growing international push to solve one of the more mundane but pressing challenges of long-duration missions: laundry.
Space X will attempt to launch its super heavy booster rocket, Starship tonight after it was postponed on Monday night due to weather conditions at its starbase in Texas, United States.
Scientists at King's College London have unveiled a dental treatment that uses keratin to repair damaged tooth enamel.
AnewZ has learned that India has once again blocked Azerbaijan’s application for full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, while Pakistan’s recent decision to consider diplomatic relations with Armenia has been coordinated with Baku as part of Azerbaijan’s peace agenda.
A day of mourning has been declared in Portugal to pay respect to victims who lost their lives in the Lisbon Funicular crash which happened on Wednesday evening.
A Polish Air Force pilot was killed on Thursday when an F-16 fighter jet crashed during a training flight ahead of the 2025 Radom International Air Show.
At least eight people have died and more than 90 others were injured following a catastrophic gas tanker explosion on a major highway in Mexico City’s Iztapalapa district on Wednesday, authorities confirmed.
Palaeontologists in Peru unveiled the fossilized skeleton of an ancient, dolphin-like creature estimated to be between 8 and 12 million years old.
China has entered the United Nations’ annual list of the world’s ten most innovative nations for the first time, displacing Germany, Europe’s largest economy, as companies in Beijing ramp up investment in research and development.
Microsoft and OpenAI announced Thursday a non-binding deal outlining terms that would allow OpenAI to restructure into a for-profit company, marking a key step in the high-profile partnership fueling ChatGPT’s growth.
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has launched an inquiry into seven technology companies over how their AI chatbots interact with children, amid rising concerns about safety and mental health risks.
Nvidia (NVDA.O) announced on Tuesday that it plans to release a new artificial intelligence chip by the end of next year, designed to manage complex tasks like video creation and software development.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment