Japan has finally successfully launched its H3 flagship rocket into space after two failed attempts in a row.
The Smart Lander of Investigation Moon (SLIM) H3 successfully lifted off at 9:22 a.m. Tokyo time (12:22 GMT) on Saturday, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said in a live broadcast. and entered its designated orbit carrying a dummy satellite and two working microsatellites.
According to Al Jazeera, when the rocket successfully reached its intended destination, the employees of the command center hugged each other during the broadcast.
Touted as a low-cost flagship, the H3's microsatellites are expected to aid in disaster prevention efforts and monitor the operating conditions of factories.
The Japanese Space Agency expects the H3 to replace the two-decade-old H-IIA, which has been in space since 2001.
The H3 rocket, designed to carry a 6.5 metric ton payload into space, was produced for just five billion yen ($33 million), half the cost of the previous rocket.
The Japanese space agency hopes the H3's low cost and high payload capacity will attract global clients for missions.
Japan has said it plans to launch about 20 satellites and probes with H3 rockets by 2030.
The successful launch of the H3 follows two failures last year, including a botched launch in March that was marred by an engine explosion.
The Japanese Space Agency identified three possible electrical malfunctions in a post-launch review, but the direct cause of the failure could not be determined, causing significant delays to its space projects.
Japan successfully landed the unmanned Smart Lander of Investigation Moon (SLIM) on the moon last month, becoming the fifth country to land on the lunar surface.