Japan’s space agency forced to destroy H3 rocket after failed launch

The failure is the second in six months since a smaller Epsilon-series solid-fuelled rocket designed to launch scientific satellites failed in October.

An H3 rocket lifts off from Tanegashima Space Centre (Kyodo News via AP)

Japan’s space agency was forced to destroy a new H3 rocket moments into its launch after the ignition for the second stage failed.

Coming three weeks after an aborted launch due to a separate glitch, the H3’s failure was a setback for Japan’s space programme — and possibly for its missile detection programme — and a disappointment for space fans who were rooting for Tuesday’s retrial.