IAC-14-D2.1.4 CURRENT STATUS AND FUTURE PROSPECT OF JAPANESE FLAGSHIP LAUNCH VEHICLE

摘要

Current status and future prospect of Japanese flagship launch vehicle, i.e., H-IIA and H-IIB, and their successor to be developed, is described. H-IIA and H-IIB launch vehicle achieved 22 consecutive successful launches with the launch of Advanced Land Observing Satellite-2 "DAICHI-2" (ALOS-2) on May 24th, 2014. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) is the manufacturer and the launch services provider of H-IIA and H-IIB. The demonstrated reliability of the vehicles helped to receive its first commercial launch services order from Telesat last year to launch Telstar 12 Vantage satellite in 2015. Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and MHI also successfully finished the H-IIA upgrade development program for reduction of delta-v to GEO with the Post Qualification Review (PQR) in January, 2014. The program focuses on upper stage modifications to provide better services for customers. The qualified technologies are ready for flight and will also be applied to Telstar 12 Vantage mission. In parallel with workhorse operation, in 2013, the Japanese government officially decided to develop the successor of H-IIA and H-IIB launch vehicle with its targeted inaugural launch in 2020. JAXA started a conceptual design in cooperation with a group of private companies led by MHI, selected as a prime contractor of this next-generation launch vehicle in March 2014.