H-IIA

The H-IIA, also written H-2A, is a retired Japanese expendable launch system developed and operated by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in collaboration with JAXA. It launched satellites into geostationary orbit, interplanetary probes and Earth observation missions, including the Akatsuki Venus orbiter and the Emirates Mars Mission, all from the Tanegashima Space Center. It had a two-stage core burning liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, with solid boosters added as a mission needed, and derived from the earlier H-II. The H-IIA made its maiden flight on 29 August 2001 and flew 50 times, 49 of them successful, before retiring on 28 June 2025. Production responsibility passed from JAXA to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries on 1 April 2007.