Japan cancels H3 rocket launch moments before lift-off

Japan just cancelled its new rocket launch moments before lift-off that was due on Wednesday, December 17, 2025- due to some technical issues.

The Japan ⁠Aerospace Exploration Agency JAXA informed that the Japan space agency cancelled its pre-planned H3 rocket launch carrying the Michibiki No.5 satellite ‌system due to ‘facility trouble,’ reports Reuters.

According to an announcement at the launch site, the launch is cancelled due to an anomaly in the ground systems.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and other parties are investigating the details of the situation, reports Xinhua.

As per Space, the 10,580-pound (4800 kilogram) Michibiki 5 will be part of the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System QZSS, Japan’s homegrown navigation network in geosynchronous orbit.

Michibiki is a Japanese satellite designed to enhance GPS accuracy for smartphones, car navigation systems, and other location-based services.

The current system consists of five satellites orbiting over Japan, aiding not only in navigation but also in emergency earthquake alerts in areas with no communication signals

The Japanese government aims to establish a seven-satellite system capable of providing positioning information without relying on foreign satellites.

The "Michibiki No. 5" is the sixth of such mission and the Japan space agency describes that, “this system is compatible with GPS satellites and can be utilized with them in an integrated fashion.”

“QZSW can be used even in the Asia-Oceania regions with longitudes close to Japan, so its usage will be expanded to other countries in these regions as well,” it added.

The due launch was scheduled as seventh-to-date, for the two-stage H3, the successor to Japan’s workhorse H-2A, which retired this past June after 24 years of service.

Previously, the H3 failed during its debut launch in March 2023, resulting in the loss of the ALOS-3 Earth-observing satellite.

But the medium-lift rocket bounced back strong, acing its next five missions, including a February 2025 launch that sent another Michibiki satellite to orbit.

The H3 rocket is a Japanese medium-lift launch vehicle developed by JAXA and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.