The H3 Launch Vehicle is an expendable launch system in development in Japan. H3 rockets are liquid-propellant rockets with strap-on solid rocket boosters and are planned to be launched from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan. Mitsubishi and the JAXA have been responsible for the design, manufacture, and operation of the H3.
facts
providerMitsubishi Heavy Industries
countryJPN
classmedium-lift launch vehicle
payload to LEOkg16,000
reusableno
first flight2023-03-07
flights total10
flights successful8
last flight2026-10-20
next flight2026-10-31
statusactive
price per launchUSD50,000,000
payload to GTOkg6,500
heightm63
diameterm5.27
masskg574,000
crawled events
- notable2026-09-14iQPS books H3 rideshare launch with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
- notable2026-08-11JAXA launches Michibiki 7 navigation satellite on H3 rocket's 9th flight
- 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
- 20262026-10-20JAXA launches MMX sample-return mission on H3's tenth flightas of 2026-10-22
- 2026-08-11JAXA launches QZS-7 (Michibiki 7) on H3's ninth flightas of 2026-08-13
- 2026-06-12JAXA flies H3 Launch Vehicle flight No.6, its 30 configuration test vehicleas of 2026-07-12
- 20252025-12-22JAXA loses QZS-5 after H3's eighth flight suffers second-stage engine failureas of 2026-07-12
- 2025-10-26JAXA launches new cargo craft HTV-X1 on H3's seventh flightas of 2026-07-12
- 20242024-07-01JAXA launches ALOS-4 on H3's third flightas of 2026-07-12
- 2024-02-17JAXA flies H3's second test flight, reaching orbit as plannedas of 2026-07-12
- 20232023-03-07JAXA destroys H3 on its maiden flight after second-stage ignition failureas of 2026-07-12
sources
[1] ll.thespacedevs.com ↗
provider2026-07-05country2026-07-05reusable2026-07-05first flight2026-07-05next flight2026-08-13status2026-07-05price per launch (USD)2026-07-05payload to GTO (kg)2026-07-08height (m)2026-07-08diameter (m)2026-07-08mass (kg)2026-07-08
[2] global.jaxa.jp ↗
flights totalfirst-party2026-10-22flights successfulfirst-party2026-10-22last flightfirst-party2026-10-22
[3] en.wikipedia.org ↗
classwikipedia2026-07-05payload to LEO (kg)wikipedia2026-07-05
faq
Who builds H3?
H3 is built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. as of 2026-07-05
How many times has H3 flown?
H3 has flown 10 times. as of 2026-10-22
When did H3 first fly?
H3 first flew on 2023-03-07. as of 2026-07-05
Is H3 reusable?
H3 is not reusable. as of 2026-07-05