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H-II

Dwarfing its predecessor, the H-II consists of a 2-stage core vehicle, burning liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen in both stages, with two large solid-propellant strap-on boosters. Nissan produces the 4-segmented strap-on boosters which are considerably larger than the main stages of ISAS' M-3 and M-5 series vehicles. The LE-7 first-stage main engine overcame numerous developmental difficulties, while the LE-5A engine used by the second stage merely represents an upgraded version of the proven LE-5 flown on the second stage of the H-I (References 125-133).

H-II (Japan)

Background Information First Launch: February 1994 Flight Rate: 1-2 per year Launch Site: Yoshinobu Launch Complex (Tanegashima, Japan) Capability: 23,000 lb to 100 NM circular, 30° orbit;14,000 lb to 100 NM circular, 90° orbit; 8,800 lb to GTO; 4,800 lb to GEO History H-II development began in April 1985 First launch February 1994 Eight missions scheduled through 1999 Description Two-stage vehicle with two strap-on solid boosters Stage 1 burns LH2/LO2 in one Mitsubishi LE-7 engine, generating 189,596 lb of thrust at sea level Stage 2 burns LH2/LO2 in one Mitsubishi LE-5A engine, generating 27,313 lb of thrust (vacuum) Two Nissan solid strap-ons burn HTPB/AP/AI, generating 350,688 lb of thrust each Profile Length: 164.1 ft Launch Weight: 573,040 lb Diameter: 13.13 ft Liftoff Thrust: 890,972 lb Payload Fairing: 39.4 ft x 13.5 ft (16.4 ft diameter fairing available)

• 125. NASDA. National Space Agency of Japan, NASDA, 1994.
• 126. H-II Launch Vehicle, NASDA, 1994.
• 127. R. Nagao, "Development Status of the LE-7 Engine", Paper IAF-93-470, 44th Congress of the International Astronautical Federation, 16-22 October 1993.
• 128. T.S. Sienko, "Lift-off at Dawn", Space, March-April 1994, pp. 6-8.
• 129. N.W. Davis, "Japan's Space Hopes Ride on H-II", Aerospace America, March 1994, pp. 36-40.
• 130. E. Sekigawa, "Kawasaki Completes Design of New H-2 Payload Pairings", Aviation Week and Space Technology, 18 April 1994, p. 56.
• 131. E. Sekigawa, "High H-2 Cost Worries NASDA", Aviation Week and Space Technology, 19 July 1993, p. 66.
• 132. M. Mecham, "Japan Space Programs Keyed to H-2 Success", Aviation Week and Space Technology. 31 January 1994, pp. 50-51.
• 133. "H-2 Commercial Use Limited by High Costs", Aviation Week and Space Technology, 31 January 1994, p. 52.

Sources and Resources

• Adapted from: Europe and Asia in Space 1993-1994, Nicholas Johnson and David Rodvold [Kaman Sciences / Air Force Phillips Laboratory]

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