TANEGASHIMA, JAPAN / RankWire.AI / – On Tuesday, Japan successfully launched its H3 rocket carrying the Michibiki No. 7 navigation satellite. The H3 Flight No. 9 lifted off at 4:23:31 a.m. Japan time from the Tanegashima Space Center. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, verified that the satellite separated approximately 29 minutes and four seconds after liftoff. The agency confirmed that the rocket adhered to its planned trajectory and placed QZS-7 into its designated orbit.
Michibiki No. 7 is a component of Japan’s Quasi-Zenith Satellite System, known as QZSS. The satellite network 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 in parts of the Asia-Oceania region. Oversight of the QZSS program is managed by Japan’s Cabinet Office through its National Space Policy Secretariat.
Originally, JAXA scheduled the launch of QZS-7 for February 1, 2026. However, the launch was postponed as officials conducted investigations into the failure of H3 Flight No. 8 in December 2025. An update in February indicated that the mission would not proceed within the original launch window, which ended on March 31. After further weather assessments, JAXA set a new launch date of August 10, but weather conditions shifted the schedule to August 11, when the rocket successfully completed its flight.
H3 mission marks progress following earlier setback
On December 22, 2025, H3 Flight No. 8 launched Michibiki No. 5 from Tanegashima, but the mission was unsuccessful. JAXA reported that the second-stage engine failed to complete its second ignition normally and shut down prematurely. As a result, the rocket did not deliver QZS-5 into its planned orbit. Japan resumed H3 launches on June 12, 2026, with Flight No. 6, which successfully reached its predetermined orbit and deployed several small payloads.
The H3 launch vehicle now serves as Japan’s primary rocket, replacing the H-IIA family. The development was a joint effort between JAXA and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. The first test flight of the H3 failed in March 2023 after its second-stage engine did not ignite, but a subsequent test in February 2024 succeeded. Since then, H3 missions have included launches for government payloads, Earth observation satellites, and cargo spacecraft. The H-IIA completed its 50th and final launch in June 2025 from Tanegashima.
Michibiki expands Japan’s satellite navigation capabilities
Designed to enhance satellite positioning coverage while remaining compatible with GPS, Japan’s QZSS employs satellites in quasi-zenith and geostationary orbits. Its services encompass positioning, navigation, timing, and various forms of augmentation. In July, the Cabinet Office released updated performance data for the six-satellite phase following the commencement of QZS-7 operations. This phase accounts for the loss of QZS-5, which occurred during the December launch failure.
Japan maintains plans for a seven-satellite QZSS constellation. Official technical documentation released prior to Tuesday’s launch describes QZS-7 as part of the latest system expansion. The successful deployment on August 11 achieved immediate launch objectives, with JAXA confirming both satellite separation and insertion into the planned orbit. The successful H3 Flight No. 9 thus adds another mission to Japan’s current launch program, following the successful H3 test flight in June.