On June 28, the H-2A rocket successfully concluded its long career with a final launch, deploying the GOSAT-GW (Ibuki GW) Earth science satellite. The launch, occurring at 12:33 p.m. Eastern from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan, saw the satellite reach its sun-synchronous orbit 16 and a half minutes later. JAXA subsequently confirmed that GOSAT-GW successfully extended its solar arrays.

GOSAT-GW, or Global Observing Satellite for Greenhouse Gases and Water Cycle, is a 2,600-kilogram spacecraft built by Mitsubishi Electric Corporation for JAXA. Its mission includes using a microwave scanning radiometer to measure water across land, oceans, and the atmosphere, and a spectrometer to observe atmospheric greenhouse gases. The satellite's operational lifespan is planned for seven years.

This marked the 50th and final flight for the H-2A, a rocket extensively used for civil, commercial, and military satellite launches. Initially launched in 2001, its sole failure occurred in November 2003 during a reconnaissance satellite launch due to a solid rocket booster malfunction. Primarily used by JAXA for Earth and space science missions and by the Japanese military for Information Gathering Satellites, it also saw limited commercial use. However, its relatively high cost and low flight rate hindered widespread commercial adoption.

The H-2A was an upgraded version of the H-2 rocket (seven flights between 1994 and 1999). Another variant, the H-2B, launched nine times (2009-2020), deploying HTV cargo to the International Space Station. The Japanese government's decision to transition to the H3 rocket, aiming for higher flight rates and lower costs, was announced over a decade ago. While the H3 debuted in March 2023 with an initial failure, subsequent successful launches (including one in February 2025) have established its reliability.

The final H-2A launch was part of a busy day for space launches, with four orbital missions within less than 13 hours. A Rocket Lab Electron launch and two SpaceX Falcon 9 launches (Starlink satellites) bookended the event.