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SS-520 Sounding Rocket

The SS-520 is a two-stage rocket, the first stage of which comes from the main booster of the S-520. It has a capability for launching a 140 kg payload to an altitude of about 800 km. The SS-520 aims at reaching 800 km altitude, and at the same time, carrying out technological experiments concerning the development of a mini-satellite launch vehicle by adding the third stage atop. The first stage is stabilized aerodynamically by use of tail fins like the S-520. As the second stage is heavier than the head of S-520, the aerodynamic margin is secured more than ever. The whole motor case of the second stage is made of CFRP. The spin generated in the first stage is succeeded by the second stage, and it is utilized in the Rhumb-line control and spin stabilization.

The SS-520 debuted in January, 1998. The SS-520-2 rocket was launched at 6:16 PM (local Japan time) on December 4, 2000, from SvalRak (Ny Olsen), Norway, at an angle of elevation 86°, azimuth 192°. The rocket launch was normal, ignition occurred on schedule at 67 seconds for the first stage, 69 seconds for the second stage, and it reached its summit of 1,040km at about 600 seconds, before splashdown at about 1,100 seconds. All telemetry and onboard instruments functioned smoothly.

ISAS had a plan to launch it from Spitsbergen, Norway, to send a payload into the cusp region of the geomagnetosphere. The Japanese sounding rocket SS-520-3 was to lift off from Svalbard in January 2017. The Japanese sounding rocket would fly an instrument developed by researchers at the University of Oslo.

SS-520-4 was the 2017 orbital attempt. Through SS-520 No. 4 launch on Jan. 15, 2017, JAXA sought for research and development of launch vehicles and satellites and the launch demonstration of TRICOM-1, its onboard nanosat that weighed about 3 kilograms. The launch was part of Japanese government's program for development of launch vehicles and satellites in public-private partnerships. The first stage flight of SS-520 No. 4 proceeded according to schedule. Thereafter, however, ground teams could not receive telemetry from the launch vehicle and the call was made to abort the second stage ignition. Despite the simplicity of the technologies used, Japan spent $ 3.5 million on the SS-520-4. It was expected that the subsequent launches will be cheaper.

Four Japanese firms from different industries announceed plans 07 August 2017 to set up a company to develop next-generation rockets for launching small satellites. The use of small satellites for communications and observation purposes is spreading in the United States and other countries. Some start-up companies in Japan have launched efforts to develop rockets for launching small satellites at low costs.

Canon Electronics, IHI Aerospace, Shimizu Corporation and the Development Bank of Japan, or DBJ, plan to launch a firm to develop next-generation mini rockets. The new company was founded with capital of 200 million yen ($1.8 million). Canon Electronics took a 70% stake. The three other parties had stakes of 10%.

Both Canon and IHI had been developing satellites. Shimizu is a major construction firm and the DBJ is a government-affiliated financial institution. The new company will aim to enter the microsatellite launching business, whose market is projected to grow globally. The 4 companies are reportedly hoping to gather their know-how in rocket development and put the new firm into operation soon. Japan's space industry is lagging behind that of the US and other countries. A law was enacted in November 2016 to encourage private companies to enter the industry.

The partners plan to develop the rocket using technology from the SS-520 minirocket owned by JAXA, Japan's space agency. Canon Electronics supplies the SS-520's control equipment. An SS-520 launch in January 2017, the rocket's first, ended in failure. Canon Electronics said it will draw from the experience. IHI Aerospace has experience developing and launching solid-fuel rockets. Shimizu is studying how it can apply its construction technology to space development. A subsidiary has engaged in consulting work regarding space. The DBJ is providing a 100 billion yen line of credit to the company over the next three years.

The principle of an ultralight carrier rocket for the launch of nanosatellites may well have some potential. The first CubeSats were launched in 2003, over the next few years more than three hundred nanosatellites of different formats were lanched, and in the manifest for 2017 there were already in the range of two hundred. From the student and experimental vehicles, nanosatellites passed to the level of applied ones. As a rule, now they are launched by a passing load with an "ordinary" satellite or large groups, and the market value of the deduction is estimated at $ 250,000 for CubeSats (3 blocks 10x10x11.35 cm). Theoretically, the customer would pay more for the possibility of quickly bringing the nanosat to a separate orbit.