The payload section of the H3 rocket being installed on top of the second stage before its unsuccessful launch Dec. 22. Credit: JAXA WASHINGTON — An H3 launch failure in December may have been caused ...

Japan's H3 rocket lost its payload fairing around 4 minutes after launch, leaving a satellite exposed and hanging on for dear life. Reading time 2 minutes New details have emerged regarding Japan’s H3 ...

Japan’s newest heavy-lift rocket completed a largely successful ascent in late 2025, yet failed to deliver its payload after a sequence of unexpected mechanical events. The H3 rocket, developed by ...

If you’re in the space business long enough, you learn there are numerous ways a rocket can fail. I’ve written my share of stories about misbehaving rockets and the extensive investigations that ...