The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) announced on the 31st that the launch of the fourth, domestically produced new rocket H3 carrying the Ministry of Defense’s communications satellite will be postponed from November 2nd to November 4th. Bad weather is expected around the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, where the launch site is located. This is the fourth time the event has been postponed due to parts replacement and bad weather.

The new scheduled launch time is between 3:48 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. It will carry Kirameki-3, an X-band defense communications satellite used by the Self-Defense Forces for inter-unit communications.

The launch was originally scheduled for October 20th, but was postponed to the 26th due to delays in the launch of H2A rocket No. 49, which uses the same launch site. Since then, the schedule has been repeatedly changed due to problems during inspections and bad weather. (Kyodo News)