Japanese Space Agency Takes Heat After Losing $200 Million Satellite in Rocket Mishap
Launch of H3 on March 6, 2023.Photo: Kyodo News (AP)Japan’s H3 rocket failed to reach orbit on Monday, so instead of celebrating the debut of a flagship launch vehicle, Japan’s space agency is scrambling to understand what went wrong and what it means for Japanese space policy going forward. There’s also a backlash afoot, with a former astronaut rightly asking why a $2o0 million satellite was included in the test mission.The H3 rocket took flight on Monday at 8:37 p.m. ET, lifting off from the Tanegashima Space Center in!-->!-->!-->!-->!-->…