Tokyo - May 25, 1997 - Japan’s National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) has announced its intention to scrap the current J-1 launcher, in favor of a completely remodeled version to fly in 2003. An in-house report, released through the Science and Technology Agency on May 16, proposes a three year study program to develop a highly reliable "advanced" J-1 rocket capable of launching a one ton payload with a $10,000 per kilogram per launch price tag, to an orbit insertion accuracy within 30 kilometers.

The report stresses an urgent need to develop a low-cost, reliable and accurate launcher for NASDA’s small experimental Mission Demonstration Satellite (MDS) program and next decades’ burgeoning LEO satellite market.

While officials say they are keeping their options open, the study pits a Lockheed Martin-derived 34 meter two-stage oxygen-kerosene booster against a 29 meter solid propellant version proposed by Nissan Motor Co. Ltd., of Tokyo.

The proposed study highlights the redundancy of the current J-series’ checkered development in the face of the H-2A program. Launched under NASDA’s own "Better, Faster, Cheaper," policy initiative in 1994, the H-2A is on course for a fifty percent reduction in costs over its H2 predecessor. Meanwhile the J-1 series, consisting of two versions, one using a first stage H-2 booster and the second a solid rocket booster (SRB-A) from the H-2A, will take NASDA seven years and $170 million in development and launch costs by 2000.

According to listed design objectives, the liquid-propelled version’s first stage would contain a low cost monolithic carbon fiber casing and the engine a newly designed high pressure cluster injector. The second stage would similarly employ low cost bi-propellant systems powered by a newly designed motor with a similarly cheap high pressure injector and cooler nozzles.

Sources within NASDA's rocket group, responsible for weighing up the two candidate options, say their number-one priority is to obtain a significant improvement in orbit insertion accuracy. According to such parameters, the Nissan proposal would be at a clear disadvantage.

A NASDA source within the propulsion systems department said that any liquid fueled booster would provide the rocket a more adequate payload insertion capability. "What we are looking for a significant improvement. Nissan should be worried, but if possible we want to develop an all-Japanese rocket," said the official, stressing that NASDA intended to work closely with Japanese contractors over the three-year study period.

When asked whether a liquid propelled version design would ultimately be favored, a highly placed official in Japan’s science and technology establishment said, "It’s a good question, but in my opinion, that’s right. NASDA may be favoring the liquid version. There is the possibility that NASDA will want to import the low-cost propulsion system."

Atsutaro Watanabe, deputy director of the launch vehicle systems department, denied that the study would come down to two rival designs. But while calling the Nissan proposal " technically possible" and "interesting," he agreed that the Japanese contractor faced a tough challenge.

"We have to study all the possibilities and the combination of a liquid first stage and a solid second stage should also be explored. If we stick to one or two concepts from the beginning, we can’t achieve our goals. A liquid rocket booster would provide answers, but looks relatively expensive. The requirement from the satellite group was that the J-1A would achieve the same orbit insertion accuracy as the H-2A- this is a very tough requirement for a solid booster," he said.

An official from Nissan Aerospace reacted by saying that they had a strong case in terms of price as the Nissan version would also benefit from technology transfers from the H-2A program.

"The study proposals are nothing new. The key feature of our design will be its lower cost and I believe an all-Nissan system will have a significant advantage, though I’m not qualified to talk about the price. It’s a very challenging price and [our] price will be a significant improvement."

The representative said that Nissan was also prepared to build a very small bi- or mono- propellant orbit injection stage to compensate for the design’s weaker orbit accuracy. While it was carrying out basic research on such a system the official said the buying-in of foreign kick motors widely available in the U.S. and European markets wasn't being ruled out.

Ryouchi Sekita, deputy director of STA’s space division suggested that the advanced J-1 might replace some missions by Japan’s other small launcher, the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science’s all-solid M-5 launcher.

The M-5, a new rocket capable of 1.8 tons to LEO, will be busy until 2002 with six space science missions it the ISAS manifest which includes missions to Mars, the Moon and possibly a near-earth asteroid.

ISAS spokesman Yasunori Matogawa said, "the advanced J-1 posed no threat to the M-5’s future as there was a clear division of labor between ISAS and NASDA which he predicted would be maintained well into the next decade."

As to the second objective, commercial viability, Hiroshi Imamura, vice president of Rocket Systems Corp. (RSC), said it was too early to say whether or not the J-1 would make it. RSC had quickly written off the J-1 and he said that NASDA would have to work very hard to effect an efficient development plan.

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