Japan lost a 5-ton navigation satellite when it fell off a rocket during launch
https://arstechnica.com/science/2026/01/heres-the-story-of-how-japans-h3-rocket-lost-its-cargo-and-just-kept-going/
Japan lost a 5-ton navigation satellite when it fell off a rocket during launch
https://arstechnica.com/science/2026/01/heres-the-story-of-how-japans-h3-rocket-lost-its-cargo-and-just-kept-going/
12 Comments
TLDR: Satellite fell off of the rocket shortly before the second stage lit. Rocket kept flying to space, leaving the satellite behind. Satellite crashed in the same impact area as the discarded first stage. Investigation still ongoing before another H3 rocket can be launched.
Also, the illustration from Japan’s space agency detailing the incident is hilariously simple and straight to the point.
Scott Manley did a video about this last week with some other information in there if one prefers that format – https://youtu.be/E_gSdrBwrvA
Friendly reminder to add struts to your rockets.
I remember Clear Usui’s coverage of this incident when it happened. Sad about the incident but at least they found the root cause of it now.
That’s not very typical, I’d like to make that point.
Not saying it wasn’t safe, it’s just perhaps not quite as safe as some of the other ones.
The front fell off?
This feels like a “the front fell off moment”.
The front fell off. Not supposed to do that.
They are a bit puzzled on exactly what exactly caused the satellite to get loose after they ejected the farings. New stage ignition then caused the damaged segments to fail and the uneven forces on the now tilted satellite caused it to fall off. O2 tank was also damaged in the events.
I hate it when that happens.
Fell off ?? That’s unusual or I have heard it first time ?
This is highly atypical for the Japanese….
some one didnt play kerbal space program before launch