H3 • VEP-4

The Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) launched a second test flight of its H3 rocket following a failure with the second stage engine in March 2023. The mission is dubbed H3/TF2 (Test Flight No. 2). The flight featured the Vehicle Evaluation Payload-4 (VEP-4) for purposes of the demonstration. JAXA stated in December 2023 that it “will capitalize on the excess launch capability of the H3TF2 by providing launch and orbit insertion opportunities for two small secondary payloads (piggyback payloads), CE-SAT-IE and TIRSAT.” Delayed from Feb. 15 due to poor weather.