The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) attempted to make history on Monday evening with the launch of its new H3 rocket, but the mission ended in disaster. The two-stage rocket lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan at 8:37 p.m. ET, but things started to go wrong shortly after first stage separation. Ground controllers were unable to confirm the second stage engine ignition, and the rocket quickly began to veer off course. JAXA officials said they lost contact with the rocket shortly after the anomaly was detected, and it is believed to have crashed into the Pacific Ocean. The cause of the failure is still under investigation. The H3 rocket was the first of its kind and was designed to reduce the cost of launching payloads into space. It was hoped that the successful launch of the rocket would help Japan become a major player in the global space industry. The failure of the mission is a major setback for JAXA, but the agency is determined to continue its efforts in space exploration. JAXA officials said they will be working to identify the cause of the failure and take steps to ensure that similar incidents do not occur in the future.