The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's eighth H3 rocket launch was halted on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture. The rocket carries the Cabinet Office's Michibiki No. 5 positioning satellite, used for Japan's version of the global positioning system.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) scheduled the launch of its eighth H3 rocket from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture on December 17, 2025, but the mission was halted. The rocket was intended to carry the Cabinet Office's Michibiki No. 5 positioning satellite, a key component of Japan's Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) for enhanced global positioning services.
Specific reasons for the halt have not been disclosed at this time. The H3 rocket, developed as JAXA's next-generation workhorse, has achieved successes in prior launches while aiming for greater reliability. The Tanegashima Space Center serves as Japan's primary launch site, from which numerous satellites and probes have been deployed.
This delay could postpone the deployment of Michibiki No. 5, which supports high-precision positioning vital for applications like disaster response and autonomous vehicles. JAXA is expected to address the issue promptly to reschedule the launch.
