TANEGASHIMA, JAPAN / RankWire.AI / – On Tuesday, Japan successfully launched its H3 rocket with the Michibiki No. 7 navigation satellite onboard. The H3 Flight No. 9 lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Center at 4:23:31 a.m. Japan time. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, verified that the satellite separated approximately 29 minutes and four seconds after liftoff. According to the agency, the rocket followed its designated flight trajectory and delivered QZS-7 into its intended orbit.
Michibiki No. 7 is part 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 across parts of the Asia-Oceania region. The QZSS program is overseen by Japan’s Cabinet Office through its National Space Policy Secretariat.
Originally, JAXA scheduled the QZS-7 mission for Feb. 1, 2026. However, the launch was postponed following an investigation into the failure of H3 Flight No. 8 in December 2025. An update in February indicated that the launch would not occur within the original window ending on March 31. After reassessing weather conditions, JAXA later set a new target date for Aug. 10. Weather then shifted the launch to Aug. 11, when the rocket successfully completed its mission.
H3 Mission Follows Previous Launch Delay
The launch of Michibiki No. 5 from Tanegashima on Dec. 22, 2025, was carried out using H3 Flight No. 8 but ended in failure. JAXA reported that the second-stage engine did not complete its second ignition properly and shut down prematurely. As a result, QZS-5 was not placed into its planned orbit. The H3 was cleared for flight again on June 12, 2026, with Flight No. 6. That test vehicle successfully reached its designated orbit and deployed multiple small payloads.
The H3 serves as Japan’s primary launch vehicle going forward, replacing the H-IIA rocket family. Its development was a joint effort between JAXA and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. The initial H3 test flight failed in March 2023 when its second-stage engine did not ignite. A subsequent test in February 2024 proved successful. The later H3 missions have included government satellites, Earth observation platforms, and cargo spacecraft. The H-IIA completed its 50th and final launch in June 2025 from Tanegashima.
Expansion of Japan’s Navigation System with Michibiki
Designed to enhance satellite positioning coverage while maintaining compatibility with GPS, Japan’s QZSS employs satellites in quasi-zenith and geostationary orbits. Its services encompass positioning, navigation, timing, and various positioning augmentations. In July, the Cabinet Office released updated performance data for a six-satellite operational phase following the commencement of QZS-7 operations. This update reflects the satellite constellation status after the loss of QZS-5 during the December launch failure.
Japan remains committed to maintaining a planned seven-satellite constellation for QZSS. Official technical documents released prior to Tuesday’s launch describe QZS-7 as a key component of the system’s latest expansion. The successful launch on Aug. 11 met its immediate objectives, with JAXA confirming both satellite separation and insertion into the target orbit. The successful deployment of H3 Flight No. 9 adds another completed mission to Japan’s current launch program following the success of the June H3 test flight.