UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Following earlier setbacks, Japan’s H3 rocket lifts off

Q1. Which of the following Japanese industrial firms is the prime contractor partnering JAXA in the development and production of the H3 launch vehicle?

  • A. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
  • B. Kawasaki Heavy Industries
  • C. IHI Aerospace
  • D. Subaru Corporation

Q2. The H3 rocket flight launched from Tanegashima Space Center on 13 June 2026, which marked Japan's return-to-flight after the December 2025 mishap, carried how many small satellites as its primary payload?

  • A. Three
  • B. Six
  • C. Eight
  • D. Ten

Q3. With reference to the H3 launch vehicle and its predecessor the H-IIA (H-2A), consider the following statements: 1. The H3 uses a newly developed first-stage engine designated LE-9 burning liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, whereas the H-IIA used the LE-7A. 2. The H3 is designed to launch at approximately half the per-flight cost of the H-IIA. 3. Unlike the H-IIA which lifted off from Tanegashima, the H3 is launched from the Uchinoura Space Center. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The H3 uses a newly developed first-stage engine designated LE-9 burning liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, whereas the H-IIA used the LE-7A.
  2. The H3 is designed to launch at approximately half the per-flight cost of the H-IIA.
  3. Unlike the H-IIA which lifted off from Tanegashima, the H3 is launched from the Uchinoura Space Center.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. Which one of the following is the national agency responsible for developing and operating Japan's H3 flagship launch vehicle programme?

  • A. Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
  • B. National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA)
  • C. Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS)
  • D. National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT)