Japan and Space Transportation Systems
Japan's long-awaited H-II launch vehicle debuted during 1994 and achieved two complete successes on its first two missions. The National Space Development Agency of Japan's (NASDA) new medium-lift launch vehicle will support a variety of major programs during the next decade and may become Japan's first entry into the international commercial launch services market. Meanwhile Japan's Institute of Space and Astronautical Science neared the end of its light-lift M-3SII program with yet another successful commercial launch in 1993. Nearing completion of development and maiden flights are two new low-capacity boosters: the M-5 and the J-l Japan has not lost a spacecraft due to a domestic launch vehicle or upper stage failure since 1980.
