H-1
The first stage of the H-I was essentially the same as that of the N-II with a liquid oxygen/kerosene main engine and 6-9 small solid-propellant strap-on boosters. The second stage was of Japanese origin, built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and burned liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen. A small solid-propellant third stage designed by Nissan was employed on GEO missions to place the payload (up to 1,100 kg) into GTO (References 116 and 125). The H-I program concluded in 1992 with nine successes and no failures.
To provide greater payload capacity and to permit unencumbered commercial space transportation offerings (the Delta licensing agreement restricted the use of the H-I for commercial flights), Japan developed the H-II launch vehicle based on all-Japanese propulsion systems. The H-II can lift payloads four times heavier than the H-I into LEO (up to 10 metric tons) and GTO (up to 4 metric tons) and will open the door to NASDA spacecraft designed to explore the Moon and planets. The first mission on 3 February 1994 deployed one payload into LEO and then carried an experimental package VEP (Vehicle Evaluation Payload) to GTO. The next H-II mission on 28 August deployed the 3.8 metric ton ETS-VI spacecraft.
H-1 (Japan) | |
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