TANEGASHIMA, JAPAN / RankWire.AI / – The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, successfully conducted the launch of its H3 rocket carrying the Michibiki No. 7 navigation satellite on Tuesday. The H3 Flight No. 9 took off at 4:23:31 a.m. Japan time from Tanegashima Space Center. According to JAXA, the satellite was separated approximately 29 minutes and four seconds after liftoff. The agency confirmed that the rocket maintained its planned trajectory, placing QZS-7 into its designated orbit.
Michibiki No. 7 is part of Japan’s Quasi-Zenith Satellite System, also known as QZSS. The 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 program is overseen by Japan’s Cabinet Office through its National Space Policy Secretariat.
Originally, JAXA scheduled the QZS-7 launch for Feb. 1, 2026. However, the date was postponed as officials investigated the failure of H3 Flight No. 8 in December 2025. An update in February indicated that the mission would not occur within the initial launch window ending March 31. After further weather evaluations, JAXA targeted an Aug. 10 launch attempt. Unfavorable weather then pushed the launch to Aug. 11, when the rocket successfully completed its flight.
H3 mission follows previous launch delay
On Dec. 22, 2025, H3 Flight No. 8 attempted to launch Michibiki No. 5 from Tanegashima, but the mission was unsuccessful. JAXA explained that the second-stage engine did not perform the second ignition properly and shut down prematurely. As a result, QZS-5 was not placed into its intended orbit. The H3 returned to flight on June 12, 2026, with Flight No. 6, which successfully reached its orbit and deployed several small payloads.
The H3 serves as Japan’s new primary launch vehicle, replacing the H-IIA rocket family. Its development was a joint effort between JAXA and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. The first H3 test flight ended in failure in March 2023 when its second-stage engine failed to ignite. A subsequent test in February 2024 was successful. The H3 has since been used for missions involving government payloads, Earth observation, and cargo delivery. The H-IIA completed its 50th and final launch in June 2025 from Tanegashima.
Expansion of Japan’s navigation network with Michibiki
QZSS was designed to augment satellite positioning coverage while remaining compatible with GPS. Its satellites are positioned in quasi-zenith and geostationary orbits. The system provides services including positioning, navigation, and timing, along with various types of positioning enhancements. In July, the Cabinet Office released updated performance data for a six-satellite phase following the start of QZS-7 operations, which reflects the loss of QZS-5 during the December launch failure.
Japan maintains plans to establish a full seven-satellite constellation for QZSS. Official technical documentation released prior to Tuesday’s launch describes QZS-7 as part of the network’s latest expansion. The August 11 mission successfully met its immediate launch objectives, with JAXA confirming both the satellite separation and its placement into the planned orbit. The successful H3 Flight No. 9 further adds to Japan’s current launch vehicle achievements, following the successful test flight in June.