London-based satellite operator Inmarsat has made a “booking” with Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) for a launch of one of its satellites on a Japanese H-3 rocket. The lower-cost new generation expendable H-3 (H-III) rocket replaces the H-2A (H-IIA) rocket series and is due to make its maiden flight in 2020. The launch of the yet-to-be-identified satellite will take place in 2022 and represents the first “commercial launch order” for the new Japanese launch vehicle. The firm already has a launch booking on the older H-2A launch vehicle. This will be carrying the INMARSAT 6F-1 communications satellite, which is due to fly in 2020.
