H-IIA (H2A) is an active expendable launch system operated by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. The liquid-fueled H-IIA rockets have been used to launch satellites into geostationary orbit, to launch a lunar orbiting spacecraft, and to launch Akatsuki, which studied the planet Venus. Launches occur at the Tanegashima Space Center.
facts
providerMitsubishi Heavy Industries
countryJPN
classexpendable medium-lift launch vehicle
payload to LEOkg10,000
reusableno
first flight2001-08-29
flights total50
flights successful49
last flight2025-06-28
next flightunknown
statusretired
price per launchUSD90,000,000
crawled events
- notable2026-09-14iQPS books H3 rideshare launch with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
- notable2026-07-29ispace switches to Japan's H3 rocket for 2028 lunar lander mission
- notable2026-07-11JAXA and Mitsubishi Heavy fly RV-X reusable rocket testbed on first hop
- notable2026-06-12JAXA flies H3 in its boosterless 30 configuration with six satellites aboard
timeline
- 20252025-06-29JAXA flies GOSAT-GW on H-IIA's 50th launchas of 2026-07-12
- 20152015-11-24JAXA launches Telstar 12 Vantage on H-IIA F29as of 2026-07-12
- 20072007-09-14JAXA launches lunar orbiter Kaguya (SELENE) on H-IIA F13as of 2026-07-12
- 20052005-02-26JAXA launches MTSAT-1R on H-IIA F7as of 2026-07-12
- 20032003-11-29JAXA destroys H-IIA F6 after booster separation failure, losing IGS #2as of 2026-07-12
- 20012001-08-29JAXA flies H-IIA on its maiden flightas of 2026-07-12
sources
[1] ll.thespacedevs.com ↗
provider2026-07-05country2026-07-05first flight2026-07-05flights total2026-07-05flights successful2026-07-05last flight2026-07-05status2026-07-05
[3] global.jaxa.jp ↗
payload to LEO (kg)first-party2026-07-12
faq
Who builds H-IIA?
H-IIA is built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. as of 2026-07-05
How many times has H-IIA flown?
H-IIA has flown 50 times. as of 2026-07-05
When did H-IIA first fly?
H-IIA first flew on 2001-08-29. as of 2026-07-05
Is H-IIA reusable?
H-IIA is not reusable. as of 2026-07-05