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.
The UK has become the latest country to annouce a social media ban for children under 16. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer made the announcement on...
Spain has received around 900,000 applications from undocumented migrants seeking legal status under a government regularisation programme. The influx...
British lawmakers look set to revisit assisted dying in the new parliamentary session after Labour MP Lauren Edwards said she would reintroduce legisl...
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Monday welcomed the newly announced peace agreement between the U.S. and Iran, urgin...
U.S. and Iranian officials said they had agreed on a framework to end their war, halt the U.S. blockade of Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a pre...
The Great Pyramid of Giza has survived for more than 4,600 years, outlasting empires, invasions and natural disasters. Now, researchers believe they have identified one of the key reasons why the ancient structure has endured for so long.
Tajik scientists have warned that glaciers in the Pamir Mountains are melting at an alarming rate, including in high-altitude areas previously considered relatively stable, following the country’s first direct winter glacier measurements since independence.
Deep in the ancient forests of southern China, researchers have discovered a small, shy snake with an extraordinary survival trick: when threatened, it creates the illusion that it has two heads.
China’s software and information technology services industry is on track to exceed 20 trillion yuan (around $2.9 trillion), underscoring the country’s rapid digital expansion and growing influence in the global technology sector.
Details of a reported draft memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran offer the clearest picture yet of how both sides plan to end months of conflict and move towards a longer-term settlement.
The U.S. and Iran say they have reached a deal to end their conflict, with an immediate ceasefire and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz after the lifting of the U.S. naval blockade. Talks will continue over the next 60 days to finalise the agreement
U.S. President Donald Trump has said a peace agreement with Iran is scheduled to be signed on Sunday in a post on social media, despite Tehran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei saying no deal would be approved this weekend.
U.S. and Iranian officials said they had agreed on a framework to end their war, halt the U.S. blockade of Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a preliminary pact that sent oil prices falling but leaves the fate of Iran's nuclear program to further negotiations.
Switzerland on Sunday rejected a referendum proposal to cap its population at 10 million, a projection showed, as voters prioritised economic stability and the country's ties with the European Union over immigration concerns.
The Canadian government has introduced a digital safety bill that would ban children under the age of 16 from using social media, unless platforms meet specific safety standards.
NASA has named three American astronauts and one Italian astronaut to fly on its Artemis III mission, a major orbital test planned for late next year that will evaluate lunar landing vehicles developed by SpaceX and Blue Origin.
China will send an astronaut to its space station on Sunday for a one-year mission, the longest duration for the country so far. The mission will help study long-duration human physiology in space as China works toward a crewed Moon landing by 2030.
Anxiety over artificial intelligence is hardening among young workers as executives promote faster adoption and companies point to automation in fresh job cuts.
Hackers are increasingly using artificial intelligence to detect software vulnerabilities, reducing the time organisations have to respond to cyber threats, Verizon said in its annual data breach report.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment