Japan on Monday canceled the launch of a rocket carrying the SLIM lunar probe and a new X-ray space observation satellite called XRISM due to bad weather conditions.
The 47th H2A rocket, operated by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, failed to launch this morning from the Space Center on Tanegashima Island, in the southwestern Japanese archipelago, due to “bad weather,” the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) said. ).
There was a countdown at the terminal for the launch of H-ⅡA Launch Vehicle No. 47. However, today’s launch has been canceled as it was confirmed that the increased wind dose would not meet launch restrictions. #H2AF47
– MHI Launch Services (@MHI_LS) August 28, 2023
【XRISM Launch Day】
On August 27, the rocket was placed on the launch pad.
The time has come: launch day is today! pic.twitter.com/8VlWQnSQ5r
– XRISM (@XRISM_jp) August 27, 2023
The H2A rocket, 53 meters long and four meters in diameter, carries the SLIM lunar probe with which Japan plans to conduct the country’s first landing, demonstrate precision landing technology and explore lunar rocks.
If Japan manages to land on the moon, Japan will be the fifth country in the world to do so, and the data obtained will be used in the North American international project Artemis, which aims to land astronauts on the moon.
The H2A also has a new X-ray space observation satellite on board, called XRISM, developed in collaboration with the US space agency NASA, which represents a major evolution in the Japanese satellite program.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries also plans to launch the new H3 missile jointly developed with JAXA as a successor to the H2A in the near future.
Last February, the H3 failed to launch its maiden flight after its supplemental thrusters failed to fire.
Source: DN
