H3 Launch Vehicle

H3 Launch Vehicle is an expendable launch system in development in Japan. H3 rockets are liquid-propellant rockets with strap-on solid rocket boosters and are planned to be launched from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan. Mitsubishi and JAXA have been primarily responsible for design, manufacture, and operation of H3.

As of July 2015, it is planned that the minimum configuration is to carry a payload of up to 4 tonnes into sun-synchronous orbit for about 5 billion yen, and the maximum configuration is to carry more than 6.5 tonnes into geostationary transfer orbit.

The first H3 without boosters is planned to launch in fiscal year 2020, and with boosters in FY2021.

Development

The development of H3 was authorized by Japanese government 17 May 2013. The H3 launch vehicle is a launch vehicle being developed jointly by JAXA and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to launch the wide variety of commercial satellites. The H3 was designed with cheaper engines compared to H-IIA, so that manufacturing the new launch vehicle would be more cost-effective, with less risk, in a shorter period of time. JAXA was in charge of preliminary design, readiness of the ground facility, and the development of new technologies for the H3, while the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is responsible for manufacturing. The main emphasis in design is cost reduction, with planned launch costs for customers are in range 50-65 mln USD.