The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) successfully put an advanced observation satellite into orbit via its new flagship H3 rocket on Monday, taking another step toward demonstrating the H3’s viability as an “easy-to-use” rocket.

Applause filled the launch control center at Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture as JAXA officials embraced following the success of the third H3 rocket launch. The H3 was carrying the Daichi-4 satellite, also known as the Advanced Land Observing Satellite-4, which was jointly developed by JAXA and Mitsubishi Electric following the loss of Daichi-3 in a failed H3 launch in March last year.

“It was truly a perfect launch, a perfect 100 out of 100,” said Makoto Arita, the JAXA H3 project team manager.

The H3 rocket followed a preset trajectory, separating into two stages and releasing the satellite into orbit, with the rocket’s remains falling into the Indian Ocean.

“Today, the payload, Daichi-4, was deployed into its operational environment — space — and has commenced its mission,” JAXA head Hiroshi Yamakawa told a news conference Monday hours after the launch.

Yamakawa said that the H3 rocket’s successful launch had highlighted progress in maintaining Japan's autonomy in terms of access to space while simultaneously ensuring international competitiveness.

“I believe (today) has been a significant step forward toward achieving these objectives,” he said.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida praised the successful launch, writing on the X social media platform of his “respect for the efforts of all involved parties and hopes for the advancement” of Japan’s space program.

JAXA plans to launch six H3 rockets annually, phasing out the older H-IIA rocket, its current mainstay, after its 50th launch later this fiscal year, which runs through March 2025.

All eyes had been on the third launch — and whether it could demonstrate the rocket's sustained reliability amid plans to fully transition to the H3 next fiscal year.

Yamakawa said he expects that successfully launching a H3 rocket for the second consecutive time will enhance its credibility both domestically and internationally, but said that JAXA will continue to carefully analyze the results of the latest launch.

“Regarding this launch, I personally feel a great sense of relief,” he said, noting that to ensure steady progress, they cannot be complacent.

Japan has in recent years persevered through a handful of failed rocket launch attempts.

In February last year, the first attempted H3 launch was aborted at the last minute. A second attempt the following month failed shortly after liftoff, as the rocket’s second-stage engine failed to ignite, with the agency forced to issue a self-destruct order. JAXA conducted its first successful launch of the H3 rocket this February.

Tokyo-based startup Space One, meanwhile, failed to become Japan's first private firm to put a satellite into orbit when its solid-fuel Kairos rocket ignited in flames just moments after liftoff in March.

Japan views a stable and commercially competitive space transport capacity as essential not only for its space program but also for its national security needs.

JAXA had initially planned to launch the H3 rocket carrying the Daichi-4 on Sunday, but poor weather conditions caused that attempt to be delayed.

The Daichi-4, built for high-resolution Earth observation, cost around ¥32 billion to develop. It boasts a 200-kilometer observation range, quadruple that of the Daichi-2. This extensive range allows it to monitor effectively even at nighttime and in poor weather.

The satellite is capable of detecting ground deformation, landslides and the impacts of natural disasters such as heavy rainfall, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. In the aftermath of disasters, it can also rapidly evaluate the extent of damage.

Additionally, the Daichi-4 can track the movement of ships with its Automatic Identification System (AIS) signals receiver. AIS automatically sends and receives essential information about ships, including call signs, names, positions, courses, speeds and destinations. This system enhances communication and information exchange among vessels as well as between ships and land-based stations.