A “flagship” LOX/Hydrogen system with solids (sounds like cross between an Atlas V and Delta IV), to be operational in 2020. This seems more like a national pride thing than a practical launcher, unless they can resolve their site and calendar restrictions out of Tanegashima.
5 thoughts on “A New Japanese Launcher”
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“National Flagship Vehicle” = “No Economics Relevant”
But hey, we’re out-doing them in spades with SLS.
Oh lookie! They re-invented the Delta IV!
Bear in mind that Japan is eager for big $ projects; they are trying to spend their way out of their economic slump, and have been for almost 20 years. They were, after all, the most frequently cited example of why a government “stimulus” doesn’t work during the passing of Obama’s “stimulus” plan (that, to the surprise of absolutely no one with a clue, didn’t work).
Therefor, it surprises me not at all that the Japanese are are funding what appears to be an uneconomic design for a satellite launcher.
As for the Tangashima launch site, there’s nothing wrong with it in any real sense. It’s on an island south of the southernmost main island, and sited on a peninsula, allowing both polar and low inclination launches. It’s at about 30 north, so not much worse than Kennedy (28 north) .
The reasons for the restrictions are simple insanity; some local fisherman claim that the rockets disturb the fish throughout the region. There’s no proof, but that’s the claim, and the government gave in to the fisherman’s demands of a YEAR’S notice of launches, plus narrow launch windows (a couple of months in spring and fall). And, on top of that, they get money, too.
Here’s a detailed explanation.
http://www.spacedaily.com/spacenet/text/fish.html
I’ve heard that the launch restrictions have improved a bit, though I don’t know how much. In a sane world, this wouldn’t be an issue at all.
Seems like more of the same. I see no difference between this and the H-IIA. Then again the whole page has little information in it.
The Japanese were supposed to be working on an a large expander-cycle engine for first stages.
More like a cross between a Delta 2 (many short solids) and Delta IV (all hydrolox), no?