144 ORBITAL LAUNCHES / RANK #6 / SINCE 1966

Rocket Launches from Japan

Japan has launched 144 orbital rockets since 1966, a 88% success rate and 2% of all orbital launches on record. That ranks Japan #6 among launch-pad nations.

LAUNCHES BY YEAR
2026 2
2025 4
2024 7
2023 3
2022 1
2021 3
2020 4
2019 2
2018 6
2017 7
2016 4
2015 4
2014 4
2013 3
2012 2
2011 3
2010 2
2009 3
2008 1
2007 2
2006 6
2005 2
2003 3
2002 3
2001 1
TOP OPERATORS
  1. 01 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries 57
  2. 02 Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency 37
  3. 03 Institute of Space and Astronautical Science 32
  4. 04 National Space Development Agency of Japan 15
  5. 05 Space One 3
All launches 144
TOP ROCKETS
  1. 01 H-IIA 98% / 50
  2. 02 H-1 100% / 9
  3. 03 H-IIB 100% / 9
  4. 04 Mu-3S-II 88% / 8
  5. 05 N-2 100% / 8
  6. 06 H-II 86% / 7
  7. 07 M-V 86% / 7
  8. 08 N-I 86% / 7
  9. 09 Epsilon 83% / 6
  10. 10 H3-22 67% / 6
  11. 11 Lambda 4S 20% / 5
  12. 12 Mu-3C 75% / 4
All launches 88% / 144
RECENT LAUNCHES LIVE FEED
JUN 12 H3-30 Test Flight Mitsubishi Heavy Industries SUCCESS
MAR 5 Flight 3 Space One AFTS activated at T+68.8 seconds, cause under investigation with possibility of mis-activation. FAILURE
DEC 22 Michibiki 5 (QZS-5) Mitsubishi Heavy Industries 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. FAILURE
OCT 26 HTV-X1 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries SUCCESS
JUN 28 GOSAT-GW (Ibuki GW) Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency SUCCESS
FEB 2 Michibiki 6 (QZS-6) Mitsubishi Heavy Industries SUCCESS
DEC 18 Flight 2 Space One Vehicle lost attitude control after first stage motor nozzle thrust vector control (TVC) failure at T+80s. FAILURE
NOV 4 DSN 3 (Kirameki 3) Mitsubishi Heavy Industries SUCCESS
FREQUENTLY ASKED
01

How many rockets has Japan launched into orbit?

Japan has 144 orbital launches on record since 1966, with a 88% success rate (4 in 2025).
02

Who launches rockets from Japan?

The leading operators are Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (57), Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (37), Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (32).
03

What is the most-used rocket launched from Japan?

H-IIA has flown 50 times from Japan's launch pads in the tracked data.
DATA & SOURCES

Launch records are from LaunchLibrary2 and cover orbital launch attempts; suborbital and test flights are excluded. Japan is the launch pad's location, not operator nationality. Figures refresh as new launches are tracked. Full ranking: launches by country.