Japan Reenters Rocket Race With New Improved H2A

ROCKET SCIENCE

Japan Re-enters Rocket Race With Improved H2A GEO Booster

Major modifications from H-II

Prepare launch vehicle family (Standard and augmented vehicles)
Improve the manufacturing process of propellant tanks
Improve the manufacturing process of engines
Reduce the cost of various components
Apply monolithic motor case to Solid Rocket Booster
Employ electrical data bus system
Employ various automated check systems

Tokyo - August 20, 2001
Japan's National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) will this weekend attempt to launch its first improved H2A launch vehicle from its main launch pad located on the southern island of Tanegashima. Launch is currently scheduled for 1pm JST (16:00 GMT) Saturday August 25.

The launch window is a generous five hours which gives nervous space officials much needed time to correct any last minute problems.

Following years of problems with both launch vehicles and satellites officials at Japan's government funded space program must deliver this time round or face an uncertain future of government and media scrutiny.

According to NASDA documents, the new H2A rocket and its future family of launch vehicles is designed to meet diversifying launch demands in the 21st century with lower cost and high degree of reliability, by making the best use of H-II launch vehicle technology.

The H2A launch vehicle family consists of a standard vehicle and an augmented vehicle. The standard vehicle has the same 4-ton GEO class launch capability as H-II, while the augmented vehicle will be able to launch a 7-ton-class payload to GEO.

Mr. Atsutaro Watanabe H2A Project Manager states that, the H2A family will enable us to carry out various mission demands in the early 21st century. However, the H2A is not an ultimate space transportation system. Active space utilization will give rise to an expansion of demand. with the H2A as an important step to the possibility of further development.

From top to bottom the new H2A configuration employs improved systems including the LE-5B second stage engine that can provide 137kN (14 tons) of thrust - an of 13% over its predecessor increase in thrust.

On the primary first stage, the LE-7A provide 1100kN (112 tons) of thrust - only a 2% increase - but with a vastly simplified manufacturing process than the problem plagued LE-7.

The main performance improvement on the first stage will be with the strap on solid rocket boosters - the SRB-As - that use a polybutadiene composite solid propellant, with each SRB-A providing 2250kN (230 tons) of thrust in vacuum - an increase of 10% from the original H2 SRBs.

For the augmented design, NASDA plans to employ an additional LE-7A engines mounted to the sides of the first stage - creating a design of similar appearance to Europe's Ariane 5.

SPACEMART

Japan Abandons European Satellite Launch Deal

Tokyo (AFP)- Sept. 26, 2000
Japan has abandoned its planned launch of a European satellite on its new H2-A rocket because of an engine problem, the latest gremlin to hit its troubled space programme, reports said Tuesday.

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