The H3 rocket's failed launch was the latest in a string of such failures among the launch vehicles of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). These setbacks are putting Japan's rocket development program in a critical situation.
Expected to be the next flagship rocket of Japan's space development with its lower cost and higher launch capacity than the current H-2A rocket, the H3 failed just minutes after liftoff Tuesday.
"We take this series of launch failures very seriously," said JAXA President Hiroshi Yamakawa at a press conference later in the day. "It is our responsibility to investigate the cause of the failure, and our top priority is to quickly restore trust."
