Author Topic: H3-30S F6 : H3-30 Test Flight (VEP-5 & others) : Tanegashima : TBD 2026 (TBD UTC) (Read 24583 times)

Galactic Penguin SST · « **on:** 09/27/2024 08:01 am »

During today’s Japanese government (MEXT)’s committee meeting on space development, JAXA has announced they are planning a dedicated test flight of the H3 rocket’s “-30” variant with 3 LE-9 engines on the first stage and no SRBs during Fiscal Year 2025.

The launch will target a Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO) with a dummy payload as the main payload, and several hitchhiking satellites planned as well. Some of the candidates include:

* PETREL (Tokyo Institute of Technology, ~50kg)
* STARS-X (Shizuoka University, ~50kg)
* VERTECS (Kyushu Institute of Technology, 6U cubesat)
* HORN L/R (BULL, Japan, 6U cubesats x 2)
* “BRO-x” (Unseen Labs, France, 8U cubesat)

Source: https://www.mext.go.jp/content/20240927-mxt_uchukai01-000038107_3.pdf

GewoonLukas_ · « **Reply #1 on:** 04/30/2025 03:15 pm »

Seems like there will be a press briefing about the status of this flight next week:

Quote

[Scheduled to be broadcast] 5/8 14:00~ Press briefing on the development status of the H3 rocket and the H3 rocket No. 6 (30 forms) 1-stage actual tank stage combustion test (CFT)

A press briefing on the development status of the H3 rocket and the status of preparations for the launch of the H3 Launch Vehicle No. 6 (Type 30 Test Vehicle), including an overview of the test outline of the H3 Launch Vehicle (Type 30) Tank Stage Combustion Test (CFT), will be live-streamed.

(Google Translate from Japanese)

GewoonLukas_ · « **Reply #2 on:** 05/02/2025 08:21 am »

First picture of the first stage with the 3 LE-9 engines:

https://twitter.com/mageshiman1025/status/1918118772759793969

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #3 on:** 05/08/2025 01:42 pm »

Press conference:

A Captive Firing Test/static test fire of the first stage is planned at the pad NET May 26: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20250508/k10014800021000.html

Bean Kenobi · « **Reply #4 on:** 05/08/2025 03:05 pm »

Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 09/27/2024 08:01 am

* “BRO-x” (Unseen Labs, France, 8U cubesat)

It's BRO-19.

Source : https://twitter.com/Cosmic_Penguin/status/1920402388608831916

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #5 on:** 06/11/2025 06:10 am »

https://twitter.com/nvslive/status/1932342814370906566

Quote

The Captive Firing Test for the H3 rocket Type 30 test vehicle is being adjusted after the launch of the H-2A rocket F50. The date will be announced as soon as it is decided. #nvslive

catdlr · « **Reply #6 on:** 07/21/2025 02:46 pm »

Four Livestream links:

H3 Rocket F6 rollout

A live broadcast of the H3 rocket before the Captive Firing Test

Live streaming to monitor the operation of the H3 rocket gripping device

Live streaming for the H3 Rocket F6 Captive Firing Test

catdlr · « **Reply #7 on:** 07/23/2025 06:58 am »

Rollout

catdlr · « **Reply #8 on:** 07/23/2025 07:08 am »

A live broadcast of the H3 rocket before the Captive Firing Test

catdlr · « **Reply #9 on:** 07/23/2025 05:25 pm »

H3 Live streaming to monitor the operation of the H3 rocket gripping device

catdlr · « **Reply #10 on:** 07/23/2025 08:29 pm »

Live streaming for the H3 Rocket F6 Captive Firing Test

lightleviathan · « **Reply #11 on:** 07/23/2025 09:08 pm »

JAXA's livestream for the static fire

lightleviathan · « **Reply #12 on:** 07/23/2025 09:15 pm »

Ignition and shutdown, total burn time was about 25 seconds

catdlr · « **Reply #13 on:** 07/24/2025 06:31 am »

A short clip of the Static Fire Test

Quote

@JAXA_en
has performed what looks like a nominal Static Fire Test of their H3-30 rocket first stage, as part of the certification process for launch later this year, the 6th overall flight of the H3, and the first in the 3 LE-9 engine configuration.
📹 JAXA

https://twitter.com/ENNEPS/status/1948133984799478268

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #14 on:** 08/22/2025 05:53 am »

This launch is almost certainly going to slip to NET November per the announcement today of HTV-X1 launching on H3 s/n F7 on October 21:

Quote

The launch schedule of the 6th H3 Launch Vehicle (Type 30 Test Vehicle) will be announced once confirmed.

sdsds · « **Reply #15 on:** 08/23/2025 02:09 am »

Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 08/22/2025 05:53 am

This launch is almost certainly going to slip to NET November per the announcement today of HTV-X1 launching on H3 s/n F7 on October 21:

Quote
The launch schedule of the 6th H3 Launch Vehicle (Type 30 Test Vehicle) will be announced once confirmed.

Is there clear confirmation somewhere that F6 (the 30S test flight) will launch after F7? When was the order of flights reversed?

AndrewM · « **Reply #16 on:** 09/20/2025 11:02 pm »

This flight will be in either late Q4 (after HTV-X1) or early/mid Q1.

Quote

In addition, JAXA plans to launch the sixth H3 rocket without SRBs by March 2026.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/08/23/japan/science-health/japan-new-iss-resupply-vehicle/ [Aug. 23]

Fuji · « **Reply #17 on:** 09/30/2025 12:52 am »

In July's CFT, JAXA fund the tank repress was lower than expected.
H3-30 will be need another CFT, so launch was slipped 2026.
https://www.sankei.com/article/20250929-7E654NF2CZP7XMZOZ6M5BTXRHU/

sdsds · « **Reply #18 on:** 09/30/2025 03:02 am »

Quote from: Fuji on 09/30/2025 12:52 am

In July's CFT, JAXA fund the tank repress was lower than expected.
H3-30 will be need another CFT, so launch was slipped 2026.
https://www.sankei.com/article/20250929-7E654NF2CZP7XMZOZ6M5BTXRHU/

Google translation to English includes:

Quote

This is an issue specific to the 3-0 configuration, and will not affect the No. 7 rocket,

https://www-sankei-com.translate.goog/article/20250929-7E654NF2CZP7XMZOZ6M5BTXRHU/?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp

AndrewM · « **Reply #19 on:** 10/16/2025 02:24 am »

With the above news and the announcement of F8 targeting December 7th, it looks like this is slipping to 2026.