this post was submitted on 16 Dec 2025
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| Scheduled for (UTC) | 2025-12-22 01:51 | |


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| | Scheduled for (local) | 2025-12-22 10:51 (JST) | | Launch site | LA-Y2, Tanegashima Space Center, Japan. | | Launch vehicle | H3-22S | | Launch provider | Mitsubushi Heavy Industries / JAXA | | Mission success criteria | Successful launch and deployment of Michibiki 5 into Geostationary Transfer Orbit |

Livestreams

| Stream | Link | |


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| | JAXA webcast (English) |  | | JAXA webcast (Japanese) |https://youtube.com/watch?v=p9WlvRyJaW0 (scrub) | | The Launch Pad | https://youtube.com/watch?v=BgOowvKVD7U (scrub) |

Stats

☑️ 3rd H3 launch this year, 7th overall

Payload info (NextSpaceflight)

Michibiki 5

QZSS (Quasi Zenith Satellite System) is a Japanese satellite navigation system operating from inclined, elliptical geosynchronous orbits to achieve optimal high-elevation visibility in urban canyons and mountainous areas, as well as from geostationary orbits. The navigation system objective is to broadcast GPS-interoperable and augmentation signals as well as original Japanese (QZSS) signals from a seven-spacecraft constellation.

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[–] ludu@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Sad to see it fail… not the みちびき we wanted.

[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

https://global.jaxa.jp/press/2025/12/20251222-2_e.html

the second stage engine’s second ignition failed to start normally and shut down prematurely

Dang. Not the best way for H3 to round out the year.

Launch postponed to Dec 22.

SRB separation.

Stage 1 cutoff and separation, stage 2 ignition.