TANEGASHIMA, JAPAN / RankWire.AI / – On Tuesday, Japan successfully launched its H3 rocket carrying the Michibiki No. 7 navigation satellite. The launch, identified as H3 Flight No. 9, took place at 4:23:31 a.m. Japan time from the Tanegashima Space Center. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, verified that the satellite separated approximately 29 minutes and four seconds post-launch. Officials confirmed that the rocket adhered to its planned trajectory, placing QZS-7 into its designated orbit.
Part of Japan’s Quasi-Zenith Satellite System, known as QZSS, Michibiki No. 7 enhances the nation’s satellite navigation network. The satellite system offers positioning, navigation, and timing services that operate in conjunction with the U.S. Global Positioning System. Since November 2018, Japan has been providing QZSS services, serving not only Japan but also supporting users in parts of the Asia-Oceania region. The QZSS program is managed by Japan’s Cabinet Office through its National Space Policy Secretariat.
Initially, JAXA scheduled the launch of QZS-7 for Feb. 1, 2026. However, the date was postponed following the investigation into the December 2025 failure of H3 Flight No. 8. An update in February indicated the launch would not occur within the initial window ending on March 31. After further weather assessments, JAXA set a new target for Aug. 10, which was later shifted to Aug. 11 due to weather conditions, culminating in a successful flight for the rocket.
H3 launch follows previous mission failure
The December 22, 2025, launch of Michibiki No. 5 on H3 Flight No. 8 from Tanegashima ended in failure. JAXA reported that the second-stage engine did not ignite properly during its second attempt, shutting down prematurely. As a result, QZS-5 was not inserted into its intended orbit. After this setback, Japan resumed H3 launches on June 12, 2026, with Flight No. 6. That test flight successfully reached its designated orbit and deployed several small payloads.
Serving as Japan’s new primary launch vehicle, the H3 replaces the H-IIA series. Its development was a collaborative effort between JAXA and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. The first H3 test flight failed in March 2023 because its second-stage engine did not ignite, but a subsequent test in February 2024 was successful. The H3 has since been used for government missions, Earth observation, and cargo launches. The H-IIA concluded its 50th and final launch in June 2025 from Tanegashima.
Expansion of Japan’s navigation network with Michibiki
Designed to strengthen satellite positioning coverage while maintaining compatibility with GPS, Japan’s QZSS employs satellites in quasi-zenith and geostationary orbits. Its services include positioning, navigation, timing, and various augmentation options. In July, the Cabinet Office released updated performance data for a six-satellite operational phase that began with the launch of QZS-7. This phase accounts for the loss of QZS-5 during the December launch failure.
Japan maintains plans for a fully operational seven-satellite QZSS constellation. Official technical documentation released before Tuesday’s launch describes QZS-7 as a key element of the system’s latest expansion. The Aug. 11 mission achieved its immediate goals, with JAXA confirming satellite separation and insertion into the planned orbit. The successful H3 Flight No. 9 further demonstrates Japan’s ongoing progress in its launch vehicle program, following the successful H3 test flight in June.