JAXA / Mitsubishi Heavy Industries · Operational · jp · Launch Vehicle
H3
Japan's modular next-generation medium-lift rocket; 3 launches in 2025 after 2024 debut.
Verified 2026-06-17 · First flight 2024-02-17
Systems cutaway
Specs & Metrics
- Payload to LEO ↑ better
- 16,000 kg
- H3-24L variant; H3-30 can carry ~4,000 kg
- Maximum payload mass deliverable to low Earth orbit (~200–400 km circular), in the vehicle's stated reference configuration.
- Payload to GTO ↑ better
- 6,500 kg
- H3-24L variant
- Maximum payload mass deliverable to geostationary transfer orbit (~185 × 35,786 km), in the stated reference config.
- Liftoff Thrust ↑ better
- 4413 kN
- baseline 2-booster config; up to 12,142 kN with 4 boosters
- Total first-stage thrust at liftoff (sea-level), in kilonewtons, summing all active engines and solid strap-ons.
- Liftoff Mass ↓ better
- 574 t
- H3-24L
- Total vehicle mass at liftoff including propellant, payload, and all stages, in metric tonnes.
- Vehicle Height ↓ better
- 63 m
- Full stack height at liftoff, in metres, including fairing or spacecraft.
- Mission Success Rate ↑ better
- 83.3%
- 5 successes, 1 failure (debut F2 failure Feb 2023 aborted; maiden success F3 Feb 2024)
- Percentage of launch attempts rated as full mission successes over the vehicle's complete flight history.
- Launches in 2025 ↑ better
- 3
- Flights 5, 6, 7 in Feb, Jun, Oct 2025
- Total number of launch attempts conducted in calendar year 2025 (Jan 1 – Dec 31 UTC).