H-II ‘H-2 “redirects here. For hydrogen isotope, deuterium see. The H-II was a Japanese rocket. It was the first major Japanese rocket using 100 national technology (for the N and HI had used American technology and the Mu-V is a small rocket). The program started in 1984 and the first flight occurred in 1994. Until 1997 the H-II was released five times, all successfully. However, the high launch costs (about 190 million each), caused them to initiate the development of a new rocket, the H-IIA. In 1998 and 1999 there were only two flaws in the H-II flight (flight No 7 and No 8). This, together with costs, caused the cancellation of the program.