The Japanese space agency JAXA is preparing for the first launch of the Epsilon S, an upgraded three-stage solid rocket launch vehicle for launching small satellites. The rocket, with a length of about 27 meters and a launch weight of about 100 tons, is developed with technologies from the larger H3. Its creation was delayed by the accident of the previous Epsilon in 2022 and two unsuccessful fire tests of the new second stage engine. Block 1 configuration with a different engine than the previous generation was chosen for the first flight. The launch from Uchinora Cosmodrome is planned before the end of March 2027.

The Japanese space agency JAXA is preparing for the first launch of the Epsilon S, an upgraded three-stage solid rocket launch vehicle for launching small satellites. The rocket, with a length of about 27 meters and a launch weight of about 100 tons, is developed with technologies from the larger H3. Its creation was delayed by the accident of the previous Epsilon in 2022 and two unsuccessful fire tests of the new second stage engine. Block 1 configuration with a different engine than the previous generation was chosen for the first flight. The launch from Uchinora Cosmodrome is planned before the end of March 2027.

During the demonstration flight, the rocket must launch a spherical device weighing 400 kg and 2 meters in diameter into a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of about 500 km. 20 Mt laser reflectors are installed on its surface. FUJI, which allows ground stations to determine the position and orientation of the device with high accuracy. The satellite does not have an active control system and is mainly intended to test the rocket's payload capacity, the accuracy of insertion into a given orbit and to improve the orbit's measurement methods.