Mitsubishi Heavy IndustriesH3-22Yoshinobu Launch Complex LP-2, Tanegashima Space Center, Japan
Michibiki 5 (QZS-5)
Launched
December 22, 2025 · 01:51 UTC
Image: JAXA
Summary
Michibiki 5 (QZS-5) launched on a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries H3-22 from Yoshinobu Launch Complex LP-2, Tanegashima Space Center, Japan on December 22, 2025 at 01:51 UTC. The mission failed: 2nd stage liquid hydrogen tank pressure abnormally start decreasing after fairing separation, leading up to 2nd stage 1st burn 27 seconds longer than planned & engine shutting down 1 second into 2nd burn. Payload stranded in LEO and re-entered shortly after. The launch window ran from 01:51 to 02:04 UTC. It was Mitsubishi Heavy Industries's 56th launch, 3rd this year and humanity's 7,164th orbital launch attempt. It was the 6th H3-22 flight and the 2nd this year. The payload was bound for Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GSTO). One object from this launch is catalogued.
- Result
- 2nd stage liquid hydrogen tank pressure abnormally start decreasing after fairing separation, leading up to 2nd stage 1st burn 27 seconds longer than planned & engine shutting down 1 second into 2nd burn. Payload stranded in LEO and re-entered shortly after.
- Watch
- 準天頂衛星システム「みちびき5号機」／H3ロケット8号機打上げライブ中継JAXA | 宇宙航空研究開発機構
- Vehicle
- H3-22 · Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
- Booster
- No booster details on record.
- Mission
- Navigation · Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GSTO)for JAXA
- Milestone
- 6th H3-22 flight · 2nd this yearMitsubishi Heavy Industries's 56th launch3rd this yearhumanity's 7,164th orbital launch attempt315th orbital launch attempt this year
Webcast
Flight preview
Flight timeline
- T−0Liftoff
- T+1M56SBooster Separation
- T+3M45SFairing Separation
- T+4M59SMECO
- T+5M7SStage 2 Separation
- T+5M20SSES-1
- T+12M48SSECO-1
- T+24M46SSES-2
- T+29M5SSECO-2
- T+29M26SPayload Separation
Catalogued objects
1 catalogued: 1 payload; none still in orbit
- Dummy CZ-12A payload · NORAD 67231 · re-entered December 28, 2025
Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org
About this launch
QZSS (Quasi Zenith Satellite System) is a Japanese satellite navigation system operating from inclined, elliptical geosynchronous orbits to achieve optimal high-elevation visibility in urban canyons and mountainous areas. The navigation system objective is to broadcast GPS-interoperable and augmentation signals as well as original Japanese (QZSS) signals from a three-spacecraft constellation. The navigation system objective is to broadcast GPS-interoperable and augmentation signals as well as original Japanese (QZSS) signals from a three-spacecraft constellation in inclined, elliptical geosynchronous orbits.
Pad
Yoshinobu Launch Complex LP-2, Tanegashima Space Center, Japan
16th launch from Yoshinobu Launch Complex LP-2, 3rd this year · 97th from Tanegashima Space Center, Japan
Local pad time at liftoff: Dec 22, 10:51 AM GMT+9, in daylight
18 launches from this pad · 99 from Tanegashima Space Center, Japan
57 days after the previous launch from this pad
All launches from Tanegashima Space Center, JapanOpen in maps
Updates
Launch failure.
Show 9 earlier updates
Official Webcast by JAXA | 宇宙航空研究開発機構 has started
LL2 · 12/22/2025 · source
Liftoff.
Cosmic_Penguin · 12/22/2025 · source
Official Webcast by JAXA | 宇宙航空研究開発機構 has started
LL2 · 12/22/2025 · source
Refined launch window.
Cosmic_Penguin · 12/20/2025 · source
Rescheduled for December 22.
Cosmic_Penguin · 12/19/2025 · source
Scrubbed for the day.
Cosmic_Penguin · 12/17/2025 · source
Hold at T-13 seconds.
Cosmic_Penguin · 12/17/2025 · source
Tweaked T-0.
Cosmic_Penguin · 12/17/2025 · source
Tweaked launch window.
Cosmic_Penguin · 12/15/2025 · source
Questions
When did Michibiki 5 (QZS-5) launch?
Michibiki 5 (QZS-5) launched on December 22, 2025 at 01:51 UTC. The launch window ran from 01:51 to 02:04 UTC.
Why did Michibiki 5 (QZS-5) fail?
2nd stage liquid hydrogen tank pressure abnormally start decreasing after fairing separation, leading up to 2nd stage 1st burn 27 seconds longer than planned & engine shutting down 1 second into 2nd burn. Payload stranded in LEO and re-entered shortly after.
Where can I watch Michibiki 5 (QZS-5)?
Coverage: 準天頂衛星システム「みちびき5号機」／H3ロケット8号機打上げライブ中継. Watch the replay
What rocket launched Michibiki 5 (QZS-5)?
H3-22, flown by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. H3-22 spec sheet
Where did Michibiki 5 (QZS-5) launch from?
Yoshinobu Launch Complex LP-2, Tanegashima Space Center, Japan. Liftoff was Dec 22, 10:51 AM GMT+9 local time at the pad.
What orbit was Michibiki 5 (QZS-5) going to?
Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GSTO), a navigation mission.
How many satellites did Michibiki 5 (QZS-5) launch?
1 payload from this launch is catalogued, no longer in orbit (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).