On August 27, Nikkei News reported that Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) is set to request a budget of 23.5 billion yen (roughly equivalent to $148 million) for the fiscal year 2027. This substantial funding is earmarked for enhancing the launch capabilities of its flagship H3 rocket. The proposed budget marks a notable surge, approximately eight times higher than the 2.9 billion yen allocated in the fiscal year 2026. The infusion of additional funds is expected to elevate the annual launch capacity of the H3 rocket from three in 2025 to a range of six to eight. Moreover, it aims to shorten the minimum interval between consecutive launches from around two months to a mere two weeks. This strategic move is designed to tap into the overseas satellite launch market, which is currently led by SpaceX. Additionally, MEXT's overall budget request for space and aviation research and development in the fiscal year 2027 is projected to reach 375 billion yen, reflecting a considerable increase compared to the fiscal year 2026.