Japan has achieved another major milestone in its space program with the successful launch of its most powerful H3 rocket, which carried the newly developed HTV-X1 cargo spacecraft on its maiden mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) confirmed that the H3 No. 7 rocket lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Centre in southern Japan on Sunday, October 26, 2025, and entered its targeted orbit approximately 14 minutes after launch. The spacecraft was successfully separated and placed into its planned trajectory.
If all proceeds as planned, HTV-X1 will dock with the ISS within the next few days, where Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui currently aboard the station will capture it using a robotic arm in the early hours of Thursday.
The HTV-X is the next-generation cargo freighter succeeding JAXA’s H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV), also known as Kounotori (“stork” in Japanese), which completed nine successful missions between 2009 and 2020. The upgraded craft boasts a larger payload capacity and can supply power during flight, allowing it to transport temperature-sensitive laboratory samples.
Designed for greater versatility, the HTV-X can remain docked at the ISS for up to six months, delivering supplies and collecting waste before embarking on an independent three-month orbital mission to conduct technical experiments after departing the station.
Sunday’s launch also marked the debut of the H3 rocket’s most powerful configuration, featuring four solid rocket boosters and an enlarged payload fairing.
JAXA President Hiroshi Yamakawa hailed the launch as “a major step forward,” emphasizing that it reinforces Japan’s capability to independently deliver supplies to space an essential foundation for sustainable and autonomous space operations.
Iwao Igarashi, head of the Space Business Department at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which co-developed and operates the H3 with JAXA, said the new model’s performance and precision prove Japan’s ability to meet diverse global launch needs. He added that Mitsubishi plans to expand its launch facilities to accommodate growing demand.
The H3 rocket now replaces the long-serving H-2A, which completed its final mission in June 2025. Designed for cost efficiency and reliability, the H3 aims to enhance Japan’s competitiveness in the global space launch market.
Having recovered from its failed debut in 2023, the H3 has since completed six consecutive successful missions, cementing its role as Japan’s new flagship launch vehicle.
Japan views this success as a cornerstone of both its commercial space ambitions and national security strategy, highlighting the nation’s growing role in the international space ecosystem.
