JAXA plans to launch six H3 rockets annually, phasing out the older H-IIA rocket, its current mainstay, after its 50th launch later this fiscal year, which runs through March 2025. All eyes had been on the third launch — and whether it could demonstrate the rocket's sustained reliability amid plans to fully transition to the H3 next fiscal year. Yamakawa said he expects that successfully launching a H3 rocket for the second consecutive time will enhance its credibility both domestically and internationally, but said that JAXA will continue to carefully analyze the results of the latest launch. [...] JAXA had initially planned to launch the H3 rocket carrying the Daichi-4 on Sunday, but poor weather conditions caused that attempt to be delayed. The Daichi-4, built for high-resolution Earth observation, cost around ¥32 billion to develop. It boasts a 200-kilometer observation range, quadruple that of the Daichi-2. This extensive range allows it to monitor effectively even at nighttime and in poor weather. The satellite is capable of detecting ground deformation, landslides and the impacts of natural disasters such as heavy rainfall, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. In the aftermath of disasters, it can also rapidly evaluate the extent of damage.