TANEGASHIMA, JAPAN / RankWire.AI / – On Tuesday, Japan successfully launched its H3 rocket with the Michibiki No. 7 navigation satellite aboard. The H3 Flight No. 9 took off from the Tanegashima Space Center at 4:23:31 a.m. Japan time. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, confirmed that the satellite separated approximately 29 minutes and four seconds after liftoff. Officials stated that the rocket followed its planned trajectory and placed QZS-7 into its designated orbit.
Part of Japan’s Quasi-Zenith Satellite System, known as QZSS, Michibiki No. 7 is integral to the network. The satellite system offers positioning, navigation, and timing services that complement the U.S. Global Positioning System. Japan has been operating QZSS services since November 2018. The system primarily serves Japan but can also support users across 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 QZS-7 mission for Feb. 1, 2026. However, the launch was postponed following the failure of H3 Flight No. 8 in December 2025 during investigations. An update in February indicated that the mission would not occur within the original launch window ending March 31. After another weather assessment, JAXA targeted an Aug. 10 attempt, which was later moved to Aug. 11 due to weather conditions. The launch ultimately succeeded on that date, with the rocket completing its flight successfully.
H3 mission follows previous launch failure
On Dec. 22, 2025, H3 Flight No. 8 launched Michibiki No. 5 from Tanegashima, but the mission failed. JAXA reported that the second-stage engine did not complete its second ignition as planned and shut down prematurely. As a result, QZS-5 was not placed into its intended orbit. Japan resumed H3 launches on June 12, 2026, with Flight No. 6, which successfully reached its designated orbit and deployed several small payloads.
The H3 rocket is Japan’s new primary launch vehicle, replacing the H-IIA family. Developed jointly by JAXA and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, the H3 saw its first test flight fail in March 2023 due to a second-stage engine ignition issue. A second test in February 2024 was successful. Since then, H3 missions have included government payloads, Earth observation satellites, and cargo spacecraft. The H-IIA completed its final launch in June 2025 from Tanegashima.
Expansion of Japan’s navigation infrastructure with Michibiki
QZSS was designed to augment satellite positioning coverage while remaining compatible with GPS. Its satellites operate in quasi-zenith and geostationary orbits, providing positioning, navigation, timing, and various forms of augmentation services. In July, the Cabinet Office released updated performance data for a six-satellite operational phase following the deployment of QZS-7. This update reflects the satellite constellation after QZS-5 was lost in the December launch failure.
Japan maintains plans for a seven-satellite QZSS system. Official technical documents released before Tuesday’s launch describe QZS-7 as part of the network’s latest expansion. The mission on Aug. 11 successfully achieved its immediate objectives, with JAXA confirming both satellite separation and insertion into the planned orbit. The successful H3 Flight No. 9 adds another successful mission to Japan’s current launch program, following the successful H3 test flight in June.