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JAXA takes heat after losing $200 million satellite

H3 in flight.
H3 in flight. Photo: Daisuke Urakami (AP)

Ground controllers were forced to issue a self-destruct command, sending H3 and its payload, the ALOS-3 advanced Earth-observing satellite, into the Pacific Ocean. Instead of launching H3 with a dummy payload, JAXA chose to risk it with a $200 million satellite on board, prompting criticisms from a retired JAXA astronaut.

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