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H-IIA

H-IIA, Japan’s primary large-scale launch vehicle, is designed to meet diverse launch demands, at lower cost and with a high degree of reliability, by making the best use of the H-II launch-vehicle technology. The simplified design and improved efficiency of the manufacturing and launch processes of H-IIA have achieved one of the highest performance to cost ratio of launch system in the world, reducing the cost of launches by a half or more.

H-IIA launch service operations have been transferred to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, LTD. ahead of the launch of H-IIA Flight 13. JAXA is in charge of launch safety management (including ground safety confirmation, flight safety assurance, and overall countdown control and supervision.)

The H2A202 is the H-IIA standard type of this series. Two solid rocket boosters (SRB-A) are equipped. Capable of launching up to four (4) metric tons into Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO). In the H2A204 Launch Vehicle Configuration four solid rocket boosters (SRB-A) are attached. The H2A204 configuration is capable of launching six (6) metric tons into Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO).

On 24 November 2015 an H-IIA rocket carrying a Canadian communications satellite lifted off Tuesday, marking the first time a commercial satellite had been launched into space by the Japanese-built booster. The price tag for the latest launch came to around ¥12 billion, still much higher than the cost of a similar launch using California-based Space Exploration Technologies Corp.’s Falcon 9 rocket, which costs ¥8 billion or less.

The H-IIA F29 with Telstar 12 VANTAGE onboard lifted off at 3:50:00 p.m. on Nov. 24, (Japan Standard Time) from the Tanegashima Space Center. The launch vehicle flew smoothly, and, at about 4 hours and 27 minutes after liftoff, the separation of the Telstar 12 VANTAGE was confirmed.

H-IIA F29 incorporated the outcome of the H-IIA UPGRADE. Following a long coast, the 3rd burn of the upgraded 2nd stage was conducted successfully. Then, Telstar 12 VANTAGE was injected closer to geostationary orbit. The H-IIA UPGRADE brought unique capabilities to the H-IIA launch vehicle. The upgrade enables the H-IIA to perform a long coast flight, and allows the second stage engine to ignite for the third time at the apogee. With these new capabilities, the H-IIA was able to inject the Telstar 12 VANTAGE closer to geostationary orbit than conventional geostationary transfer orbit.

JAXA plans to launch six H3 rockets annually, phasing out the older H-IIA rocket, its current mainstay, after its 50th launch later this fiscal year, which runs through March 2025.

Launch Capability (H-IIA Standard)

H2A202 Launch Vehicle Configuration

H2A204 Launch Vehicle Configuration