Japan aborts launch of new flagship H3 rocket

The launch of a new flagship series H3 rocket carrying an observation satellite and an experimental infrared sensor that could detect missile launches was aborted Friday after its auxiliary booster engines failed to ignite, Japan’s space agency said.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) livestream and TV footage showed white smoke billowing from the H3′s main engine. The H3 also carried an infrared sensor developed by the Defence Ministry that can monitor military activity including missile launches.