TANEGASHIMA, JAPAN / RankWire.AI / – On Tuesday, Japan achieved a successful launch of its H3 rocket, which carried the Michibiki No. 7 navigation satellite into space. The rocket, designated as Flight No. 9, lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Center at 4:23:31 a.m. Japan time. About 29 minutes and four seconds after liftoff, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) confirmed that the satellite had been separated. The agency reported that the launch followed the planned flight trajectory, successfully placing QZS-7 into its designated orbit.
QZSS, or the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System, includes Michibiki No. 7 as a key component. This satellite network offers positioning, navigation, and timing services complementary to the U.S. Global Positioning System. Japan has been operating QZSS services since November 2018, with coverage extending over Japan and parts of the Asia-Oceania region. The Cabinet Office oversees the program via the National Space Policy Secretariat.
Originally, the mission to launch QZS-7 was scheduled for Feb. 1, 2026. However, the launch was postponed as officials investigated the failure of H3 Flight No. 8 in December 2025. An update in February indicated that the mission would not occur within the initial launch window, which closed on March 31. After further weather assessments, JAXA targeted an Aug. 10 launch attempt, which was then rescheduled to Aug. 11 due to weather conditions. The launch was ultimately successful on that day.
H3 mission follows previous launch setback
H3 Flight No. 8, launched from Tanegashima on Dec. 22, 2025, carrying Michibiki No. 5, ended in failure. JAXA stated that the second-stage engine did not ignite normally during its second ignition attempt and shut down prematurely, preventing the satellite from reaching its intended orbit. Japan resumed H3 launches on June 12, 2026, with Flight No. 6, which successfully reached its orbit and deployed multiple small payloads.
As Japan’s latest launch vehicle, the H3 replaces the H-IIA rocket family. Its development was a joint effort between JAXA and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. The initial H3 test flight in March 2023 failed due to the second-stage engine not igniting, but a subsequent test in February 2024 was successful. The H3 has since been used for government, Earth observation, and cargo missions. The H-IIA’s last launch occurred in June 2025 from Tanegashima, marking the end of its service after 50 launches.
Expansion of Japan’s navigation network with Michibiki
Designed to enhance satellite positioning coverage, Japan’s QZSS is compatible with GPS and employs satellites in quasi-zenith and geostationary orbits. Its services include positioning, navigation, timing, and various forms of augmentation. In July, the Cabinet Office published updated performance data for a six-satellite operational phase following the launch of QZS-7, which reflects the loss of QZS-5 during December’s launch failure.
Japan maintains plans for a seven-satellite constellation of QZSS. Official technical documents released before Tuesday’s launch describe QZS-7 as part of the system’s most recent expansion. The launch on Aug. 11 achieved its immediate objectives, with JAXA confirming both satellite separation and correct placement into the planned orbit. The successful Flight No. 9 of the H3 further adds to Japan’s current launch program, following the successful H3 test flight in June.