Japan lost a 5-ton navigation satellite when it fell off a rocket during launch

https://arstechnica.com/science/2026/01/heres-the-story-of-how-japans-h3-rocket-lost-its-cargo-and-just-kept-going/

49 points · 15 comments · view on lemmy.world

15 Comments

Davel23@fedia.io · 14 pts · 204d (2 replies)

The front fell off?

prettybunnys@piefed.social · 6 pts · 204d

Is that typical?

Hupf@feddit.org · 3 pts · 204d
Someonelol@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 12 pts · 204d

Oof. It's one of those big geostationary satellites. Those things are ridiculously expensive with redundant systems and heavy shielding for how long their missions usually last. Tough break.

issphitikozs@sh.itjust.works · 10 pts · 204d (3 replies)

What sort of standards are these uh satellites built to?

brotundspiele@sh.itjust.works · 10 pts · 204d (2 replies)

Oh, very rigorous maritime engineering standards

prettybunnys@piefed.social · 6 pts · 204d (1 reply)

such as?

BlameTheAntifa@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 204d

Well, the front’s not supposed to fall off, for a start.

tiredofsametab@fedia.io · 4 pts · 204d (5 replies)

Sad news. It also reminds me I want to get down to see a launch one of these days. I remember looking into it before I lived here and ruling out going out there just for that (especially with very little Japanese at the time). I wonder how close I'm able to get and if/where there's a schedule.

threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 204d (4 replies)

I want to get down to see a launch one of these days

If you do, would you be willing to share your experience with the community? Coincidentally, I happened to be in Japan during this launch, but decided against trying to make it all the way down to Tanegashima. I did see the JAXA facilities in Tsukuba though, which were pretty cool.

Definitely interested in trying to see a launch next time I'm in Japan though.

ludu@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 204d (2 replies)

I'm in Japan, so I've looked at the logistic to go to Tanegashima Space Center. From Tokyo, it's like a big plane to Kagoshima, then a small plane to the island, and then a bus (if you're lucky) or an expensive taxi I guess. Of course, you could also take a ferry with a car from Kagoshima.
The problem isn't transportation, it's the fact that the best (and arguably only "worth the effort") viewing spot is a park whose access is restricted to only a few hundred people during launch… and as usual for limited things in Japan, it's a lottery system. :(

tiredofsametab@fedia.io · 3 pts · 204d (1 reply)

Oof. I wonder if chartering a boat might be easier. I knew I should've gotten my boat license before I moved to the middle of nowhere, heh.

Some useful links digging a bit (google translate should mostly get you there if needed)

The exclusion zone doesn't look too terribly big (though is cut off). I'll have to poke at that a bit more.

ludu@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 203d

I wouldn't know, haven't looked at the exclusion zone, but it's an idea.

tiredofsametab@fedia.io · 2 pts · 204d

If I ever get around to it, I would absolutely be willing to share. I need to go to the tsukuba place. There are some facilities in tohoku as well, but I've never made it.

FiniteBanjo@feddit.online · 2 pts · 204d

I have it. It's mine now.