Japan Retires Its Reliable H-2A Rocket Amid Global Space Competition, Raises Questions on Cost and Strategy

On Sunday, Japan marked the end of an era by launching its trusted H-2A rocket for the 50th and final time from the Tanegashima Space Center. This reliable workhorse successfully delivered the GOSAT-GW satellite into orbit as part of Tokyo's continuing quest to monitor and mitigate climate change impacts.With an impressive near-perfect track record since its debut in 2001 — only a single failure in 2003 blemishes its record — the H-2A rocket has been a cornerstone of Japan’s space ambitions. It has lofted crucial missions including the moon lander SLIM just last year and the asteroid probe Hayabusa2 in...