H3 family

H3-24

The H3 Launch Vehicle is a Japanese expendable launch system. Each H3 booster configuration has a two-digit and a letter designation that indicates the features of that configuration. The first digit represents the number of LE-9 engines on the main stage, either "2" or "3". The second digit indicates the number of SRB-3 solid rocket boosters attached to the base of the rocket, and can be "0", "2" or "4". All layouts of solid boosters are symmetrical. The letter in the end shows the length of the payload fairing, either short "S" or long "L". For example, an H3-24L has two engines, four solid rocket boosters, and a long fairing, whereas an H3-30S has three engines, no solid rocket boosters, and a short fairing.

Flights flown15 scheduled
Success rate100%1/1
Maiden flight2025-10-26
Peak year20262 flights

H3-24 is built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries of Japan. Company background, funding, contracts and news for this operator are tracked on Space Index. It first flew on 26 October 2025.

Flight record

6 records
100% success rate1 of 1 flown
2025peak 2026 · 2 flights2026
First flight2025-10-26
Latest flight2025-10-26
Failures0
Consecutive successes1

Payload

Per mission profile
Geostationary transfer orbit7,900kg
Launch cost$50M

Vehicle

24 spec
Stages2
Length63m
Diameter5.27m
Liftoff thrust12,142kN
Maiden flight2025-10-26
ReusableNo

Pads used

1 pad

Orbits delivered

4 orbits
Low Earth Orbit3Asteroid1Lunar Orbit1Mars Orbit1

Launch history

6 launches
DateMissionPadOrbitOutcome
2025-10-26H3-24 | HTV-X1Yoshinobu Launch Complex LP-2Low Earth OrbitSuccess
2026-10-19H3-24 | Martian Moons eXploration (MMX)Yoshinobu Launch Complex LP-2Mars OrbitScheduled
TBDH3-24 | Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (LUPEX)Yoshinobu Launch Complex LP-2Lunar OrbitScheduled
TBDH3-24 | HTV-X2Yoshinobu Launch Complex LP-2Low Earth OrbitScheduled
TBDH3-24 | HTV-X3Yoshinobu Launch Complex LP-2Low Earth OrbitScheduled
TBDH3-24 | DESTINY+ & RAMSESYoshinobu Launch Complex LP-2AsteroidScheduled

Specifications from Launch Library 2 by The Space Devs, launch records from Space Index. Derived figures are computed here; see sources and method.

Further reading: Wikipedia · Operator page