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Epsilon Launch Vehicle

Japan launched a new rocket September 14, 2013 that it hoped will be a less expensive and more efficient way of sending satellites into space. The three-stage, solid fuel Epsilon lifted off successfully from a space center in southern Japan. The Epsilon was carrying the SPRINT A, the first space telescope designed for remote observation of other planets. Japan hopes the rocket, launched with conventional laptop computers in a pared-down command center, will become competitive in the global space business. The French news agency, AFP, reports only eight workers were assigned to the blastoff operation. Lift-off had originally been scheduled for two weeks earlier, but the attempt was suspended with just 19 seconds to go due to a computer glitch.

The first Epsilon Launch vehicle (Epsilon-1) received the JFY 2013 Good Design Award Gold Award sponsored by the Japan Institute of Design Promotion. Epsilon was listed as one of the 1,212 Good Design Award winners from 3,400 nominees, then selected for the best 100 products, and finally chosen for the Gold Award this time. The following is the evaluation of the Epsilon from the Good Design Award selection committee.

"The Epsilon Launch Vehicle is not a transportation system for carrying people. It is a rocket to transport observation satellites and equipment to space. Japan possesses excellent solid propellant rocket technology, and the development purpose of the Epsilon is obvious. It exclusively aimed at concentrating every aspect of technology so it is high performance, lightweight and compact in size, as well as being low priced, and simple for assembly, launch preparation and post-launch operations. By doing so, rocket launches will not be considered as an unusual heavy-duty task but just "a part of daily life". This view is consistent with the goal of industrial design, thus we would like to highly evaluate the Epsilon in this regard. The launch vehicle itself is quite simple. JAXA's attitude "to lower the threshold to space (JAXA)" requires further symbolism in appearance design. In that sense, we would like to expect the possibility of more elaboration in graphic design. We had wondered if the Epsilon is an appropriate award candidate for the mobility division, but we concluded that it is the right target for the award if we understand the Epsilon as a means to transport our dreams to space. We would like the Epsilon to proudly compete in the international market."

The Epsilon Launch Vehicle is a solid propellant rocket suitable for a new age, delivering both high performance and low cost. Based on the M-V Launch Vehicle, a multistage solid propellant rocket with the best performance in the world (discontinued in 2006), Japan try to achieve improved performance with the Epsilon Launch Vehicle, and build a system which will allow the frequent launch of launch vehicles by largely-reducing operational costs through enhancing aspects of operational efficiency, such as assembly and inspection. Through increased launch opportunities, Japan anticipate that space development activity will increase. The biggest goal of the Epsilon Launch Vehicle is to make space more accessible as rocket launches are made easier.

Conventional launch vehicles required a significant period of time and effort to launch. With the Epsilon Launch Vehicle, launch systems are improved and simplified in order to reduce time for launch preparation. This will make times to launch the shortest in the world. Notably, the inspection of on-board devices will be done autonomously by the launch vehicle itself, thus streamlining inspection on the ground. This advance will allow the launch control of launch vehicles to be done anywhere in the world, simply by connecting a laptop computer to the network. This means having an ultimate launch control system which is independent of launch sites. Japan believes that these innovative concepts are a world first, and will be a role model for future launch vehicles.

With an overall length of 24 meters, the Epsilon is somewhat longer than the US Peacekeeper ICBM - 71 feet (21.8 meters), and Epsilon's mass of 91 tons is slightly greater than Peacekeeper's 87,750 kilograms.

JAXA announced a next phase upgrade to the Epsilon rocket 12 June 2020, known as "Epsilon S". This version would see slight changes to the 1st/3rd stages, avionics, fairings and other parts to maximize commodity with the upcoming H3 rocket. The 1st stage will directly make use of H3's new SRBs (the "SRB-3"), the 3rd stage will be doubled in propellant load mass/enlarged to same diameter as the lower stages/changed to tri-axis RCS control from spin-stabilization, and standardizing sensors etc. with the H3. This development will also lead to eventually movement of the organization of launches from JAXA to main contractor IHI Aerospace, in a similar deal of the H-IIA with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

A motor for the Epsilon S exploded in a test 25 November 2024, putting the future of the small launch vehicle into doubt. The Japanese space agency JAXA performed a static-fire test of the solid-fuel motor at the Tanegashima Space Center, but the motor exploded 49 seconds into the two-minute burn. No injuries were reported, nor any damage beyond the motor itself. The motor was being tested for the Epsilon S, ther small launch vehicle that was slated to make its first launch in 2025. A similar test of the motor in 2023 also ended in an explosion, raising questions about the design of the vehicle.