H3 (rocket) explained

H3 Launch Vehicle
Function:Medium-lift launch vehicle
Manufacturer:Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Country-Origin:Japan
Cpl:US$50 million (H3-30S)
Mass:
(Gross for H3-24L Variant)
Stages:2
Capacities:
Kilos:
(H3-30S/L)
Location:GTO
(∆V=1500 m/s)
Kilos:
(H3-24S/L) [1]
Status:Active
Sites:Tanegashima, LA-Y2
First:7 March 2023
Last:1 July 2024
Launches:3
Success:2
Fail:1
Payloads:ALOS-4
Stagedata:
Type:booster
Number:0, 2 or 4
Burntime:105 seconds
Type:stage
Stageno:First
Type:stage
Stageno:Second

The H3 Launch Vehicle is a Japanese expendable launch system. H3 launch vehicles are liquid-propellant rockets with strap-on solid rocket boosters and are launched from Tanegashima Space Center in Japan. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and JAXA are responsible for the design, manufacture, and operation of the H3. The H3 is the world's first rocket to use an expander bleed cycle for the first stage engine.

, the minimum configuration is to carry a payload of up to into Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) for about 5 billion yen, and the maximum configuration is to carry more than into geostationary transfer orbit (GTO). The H3-24 variant will deliver more than of payload to lunar transfer orbit (TLI) and of payload to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO)(∆V=1830 m/s).

Development

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries supervised the development and manufacture of the H3 rocket's airframe and liquid-fuel engines, while IHI Corporation developed and manufactured the liquid-fuel engine turbopumps and solid-fuel boosters, and Kawasaki Heavy Industries developed and manufactured the payload fairings.[2] [3] The carbon fiber and synthetic resin used for the solid fuel booster motor case and payload fairing were developed and manufactured by Toray.[4]

The development of the H3 was authorized by the Japanese government on 17 May 2013. The H3 Launch Vehicle is being jointly developed by JAXA and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) to launch a wide variety of commercial satellites. The H3 was designed with cheaper engines compared to the H-IIA, so that manufacturing the new launch vehicle would be faster, less risky, and more cost-effective. JAXA and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries were in charge of preliminary design, the readiness of ground facilities, development of new technologies for the H3, and manufacturing. The main emphasis in design is cost reduction, with planned launch costs for customers in the range of around US$37 million.[5]

In 2015, the first H3 was planned to be launched in fiscal year 2020 in the H3-30 configuration (which lacks solid-rocket boosters), and in a later configuration with boosters in FY2021.[6]

The newly developed LE-9 engine is the most important factor in achieving cost reduction, improved safety and increased thrust. The expander bleed cycle used in the LE-9 engine is a highly reliable combustion method that Japan has put into practical use for the LE-5A/B engine. However, it is physically difficult for an expander bleed cycle engine to generate large thrust, so the development of the LE-9 engine with a thrust of was the most challenging and important development element.

Firing tests of the LE-9 first-stage engine began in April 2017,[7] with the first tests of the solid rocket boosters occurring in August 2018.

On 21 January 2022, the launch of the first H3 was rescheduled to FY 2022 or later, citing technical problems regarding the first stage LE-9 engine.

Vehicle description

The H3 Launch Vehicle is a two-stage launch vehicle. The first stage uses liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen as propellants and carries zero, two or four strap-on solid rocket boosters (SRBs) (derived from SRB-A) using polybutadiene fuel. The first stage is powered by two or three LE-9 engines which uses an expander bleed cycle design similar to the LE-5B engine.[8] The fuel and oxidizer mass of the first stage is 225 metric tons. The second stage is powered by a single engine which is an improved LE-5B. The propellant mass of the second stage is 23 metric tons.[9] [10]

Variants

Each H3 booster configuration has a two-digit plus letter designation that indicates the features of that configuration. The first digit represents the number of LE-9 engines on the main stage, either "2" or "3". The second digit indicates the number of SRB-3 solid rocket boosters attached to the base of the rocket and can be "0", "2", or "4". All layouts of the solid boosters are symmetrical. The letter at the end shows the length of the payload fairing, either short, or "S", or long, or "L". For example, an H3-24L has two engines, four solid rocket boosters, and a long fairing, whereas an H3-30S has three engines, no solid rocket boosters, and a short fairing. W-type fairing is similar to L-type except wider 5.4 m diameter. W-type was mentioned in the description of JAXA's web page, but not in the current description .[11] Manufacturing of W-type fairing is contracted to RUAG Space (now Beyond Gravity), whereas other types are manufactured by Kawasaki Heavy Industries.[12]

, three configurations are planned: H3-30, H3-22, and H3-24.

A previously mentioned variant, the H3-32, was cancelled in late 2018 when the performance of the H3-22 variant, sporting one less engine on the core booster, was found to be greater than anticipated, putting it close to the H3-32's performance. While the H3-32 would have provided greater performance, JAXA cited SpaceX's experience with their Falcon 9 rocket, which routinely lifted commercial communications satellite payloads to less than the gold standard geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) of of delta-V remaining to get to geostationary orbit, leaving the satellites themselves to make up the difference. As commercial clients were apparently willing to be flexible, JAXA proposed redefining their reference transfer orbit to something lower, believing commercial clients would prefer the less expensive (if slightly less capable) H3-22 rocket, even if the client had to then load additional propellant onto their satellite for it to reach GEO, than a more expensive H3-32.

, MHI is considering contributing two variants for the Gateway project: an extended second stage variant, and the H3 Heavy variant which would comprise three first-stage liquid-fuel boosters strapped together, similar to Delta IV Heavy and Falcon Heavy.[13] It would have a payload capacity of to low Earth orbit.[14]

Launch services

H3 will have a "dual-launch capability, but MHI is focused more on dedicated launches" in order to prioritize schedule assurance for customers.

As of 2018, MHI is aiming to price the H3 launch service on par with SpaceX's Falcon 9.[15]

Launch history

Sources: Japanese Cabinet[16]

Date and time (UTC) Flight Type Launch site Payload(s) Outcome
7 March 2023,
01:37:55[17]
TF1 H3-22S ALOS-3 (Daichi 3)
17 February 2024,
00:22:55[18]
TF2 H3-22S LP2, Tanegashima VEP-4 (Vehicle Evaluation Payload-4)
CE-SAT-1E[19]
TIRSAT
1 July 2024,
03:06:42[20]
F3 H3-22S LP2, Tanegashima ALOS-4 (Daichi 4) [21]
September 2024 F4 H3-24L DSN-3 (Kirameki 3)
Q4 2024 F5 H3-22S
JFY2025 (TBD) H3-24W
JFY2025 (TBD) H3-22S
JFY2025 (TBD) H3-22S
JFY2025 (TBD) H3-24L ETS-IX
JFY2026 (TBD) H3-24W HTV-X2
2026 (TBD) H3-24L
JFY2026 (TBD) H3-24W HTV-X3
JFY2026 (TBD) H3 IGS-Optical Diversification 1
2026–28 (TBD) H3
JFY2027 (TBD) H3 IGS-Optical 9
JFY2027 (TBD) H3 IGS-Optical Diversification 2
2027 (TBD) H3 JDRS-2
2027 (TBD) H3 ALOS-3 Successor
JFY2028 (TBD) H3
2028 (TBD) H3 ALOS-4 Successor
JFY2029 (TBD) H3 IGS-Radar Diversification 1
JFY2029 (TBD) H3 IGS-Optical 10
JFY2030 (TBD) H3 IGS-Radar Diversification 2
JFY2031 (TBD) H3 IGS-Radar 9
JFY2032 (TBD) H3 IGS-Optical Diversification Successor
JFY2032 (TBD) H3
JFY2033 (TBD) H3 IGS-Radar 10
JFY2033 (TBD) H3 IGS-Optical 11
(TBD) H3 Inmarsat (satellite TBD)[22] [23]

TF1

The first launch attempt on 17 February 2023 was aborted just before the SRB-3 boosters ignition, although the main engines were successfully ignited.[24] [25] [26]

On the second launch attempt for the H3 Launch Vehicle on 7 March the vehicle launched at 1:37:55 AM UTC (Universal Time Coordinated). Shortly after the SRB-3 boosters separated from the rocket around two minutes into the flight, the rocket appeared to lose control and begin to tumble based on the views from the ground camera; however, based on subsequent analysis, this appears to be part of a planned dogleg maneuver in order to achieve sun-synchronous orbit and not in fact a loss of control.[27] Approximately five minutes and twenty-seven seconds after launch, the second stage engine failed to ignite. After continuing to be unable to confirm second stage engine ignition, and with the velocity of the rocket continuing to fall, JAXA sent a self-destruct command to the rocket at around L+ 00:14:50 because there was "no possibility of achieving the mission". The payload onboard was the ALOS-3 satellite, which was also destroyed with the launch vehicle on the moment of self-destruct.[28] [29] [30] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] [36]

TF2

On 17 February 2024, JAXA finally successfully launched the second testing rocket which has the same configuration as the first one, H3-22S, and the second stage reached the desired orbit.[37]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Space News . 25 October 2019 . 12 January 2020 . 1 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211001033532/https://spacenews.com/mitsubishi-heavy-industries-mulls-upgraded-h3-rocket-variants-for-lunar-missions/ . live .
  2. Web site: https://fanfun.jaxa.jp/jaxatv/files/jaxatv_20150708_h3.pdf. https://web.archive.org/web/20221104225302/https://fanfun.jaxa.jp/jaxatv/files/jaxatv_20150708_h3.pdf. ja:2020年 H3ロケットの目指す姿. 30. ja. JAXA. 8 July 2015. 4 November 2022. 24 February 2023.
  3. Web site: https://news.mynavi.jp/techplus/article/20210125-1671763/. https://web.archive.org/web/20220126215812/https://news.mynavi.jp/techplus/article/20210125-1671763/. ja:姿を現した新型国産ロケット「H3」、開発の舞台はいよいよ種子島へ. ja. Mynavi News. 25 January 2021. 26 January 2022. 24 February 2023.
  4. Web site: https://www.gomutimes.co.jp/?p=180548. https://web.archive.org/web/20230224092129/https://www.gomutimes.co.jp/?p=180548. ja:東レのトレカプリプレグ H3ロケットに採用. ja. Weeklly Gomutimes. 14 February 2023. 24 February 2023. 24 February 2023.
  5. Web site: 2023-03-07 . Japan's new rocket fails after engine issue, in blow to space ambitions . 2023-03-07 . The Japan Times . en-US . 7 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230307211419/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/03/07/national/science-health/h3-rocket-fails/ . live .
  6. A Japanese Fiscal Year starts in April of the year and ends in March of the next year. For this case, it denotes launch will occur no earlier than 1 April 2021, and no later than 31 March 2022.
  7. Web site: http://www.rocket.jaxa.jp/engine/le9/firingtest.html. ja:LE-9 燃焼試験. ja. JAXA. 21 January 2020. 1 March 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200301041356/http://www.rocket.jaxa.jp/engine/le9/firingtest.html. dead.
  8. Development of the LE-X Engine. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Technical Review. 48. 4. December 2011. 8 July 2015. 9 July 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150709084847/http://www.mhi.co.jp/technology/review/pdf/e484/e484036.pdf. live.
  9. Web site: H3 Launch Vehicle Brochure. 20 September 2016. 11 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170211023251/http://global.jaxa.jp/activity/pr/brochure/files/rocket09.pdf. live.
  10. Web site: http://fanfun.jaxa.jp/jaxatv/files/jaxatv_20150708_h3.pdf. ja:2020年:H3ロケットの目指す姿. ja. JAXA. July 8, 2015. July 8, 2015. 5 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160305142308/http://fanfun.jaxa.jp/jaxatv/files/jaxatv_20150708_h3.pdf. live.
  11. Web site: https://www.rocket.jaxa.jp/rocket/h3/faring.html . Japanese . ja:衛星フェアリングとは . JAXA . 25 September 2022 . 25 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220925074232/https://www.rocket.jaxa.jp/rocket/h3/faring.html . live .
  12. Web site: Payload Fairings Supplied by RUAG Space Contracted by MHI for the H3 Launch Vehicle . satnews . 10 April 2019 . 30 May 2024.
  13. https://spacenews.com/mhi-pressing-through-pandemic-toward-late-2020-h3-rocket-debut/ Space News
  14. Web site: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries mulls upgraded H3 rocket variants for lunar missions. Caleb. Henry. SpaceNews. 25 October 2019. 13 January 2020. 1 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211001033532/https://spacenews.com/mitsubishi-heavy-industries-mulls-upgraded-h3-rocket-variants-for-lunar-missions/. live.
  15. News: Henry. Caleb. Blue Origin to offer dual launch with New Glenn after fifth mission. SpaceNews. 12 July 2018. 5 August 2018. H3 is on track for a 2020 debut with a price meant to be on par with SpaceX's Falcon 9..
  16. Web site: 宇宙基本計画⼯程表 (令和5年度改訂) . Basic Plan on Space Policy (2023 Revision) . 45 . . 22 December 2023 . 26 December 2023 . ja . 25 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231225105156/https://www8.cao.go.jp/space/plan/plan2/kaitei_fy05/kaitei_fy0512.pdf . live.
  17. H3ロケット試験機1号機による先進光学衛星「だいち3号」(ALOS-3)の打上げについて[再設定(その5)] ]. Launch of Advanced Optical Satellite "DAICHI-3" (ALOS-3) by H3 Rocket Test Vehicle No. 1 [Reschedule (Part 5)] . March 4, 2023 . ja . JAXA . 4 March 2023 . 4 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230304093135/https://www.jaxa.jp/press/2023/03/20230304-1_j.html . live .
  18. Web site: JAXA 主力ロケット「H3」2号機 2024年2月15日に打ち上げへ . JAXA main rocket “H3” No. 2 to be launched on February 15, 2024 . 27 December 2023 . 27 December 2023 . NHK . japanese.
  19. News: June 27, 2023 . 「H3」2号機、衛星搭載せず リスク回避、早期打ち上げ目指す―文科省 . Japanese . . 2023-06-28 .
  20. Web site: Launch Result of the Advanced Land Observing Satellite-4 “DAICHI-4” (ALOS-4) aboard the third H3 Launch Vehicle (H3 F3) . JAXA . 1 July 2024 . 4 July 2024.
  21. News: 「H3」ロケット3号機 種子島宇宙センターから打ち上げ成功 . "H3" rocket No. 3 successfully launched from Tanegashima Space Center . 1 July 2024 . 30 June 2024 . NHK . ja.
  22. News: Inmarsat books Japanese H3 rocket's first commercial launch. Caleb . Henry. 6 December 2018. SpaceNews. 12 February 2023.
  23. News: Inmarsat to be first commercial customer for the new H3 launch vehicle provided by MHI. 6 December 2018. INMARSAT. February 12, 2023. 12 February 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230212171212/https://www.inmarsat.com/en/news/latest-news/corporate/2018/inmarsat-to-be-first-commercial-customer-for-the-new-h3-launch-vehicle-provided-by-mhi.html. live.
  24. News: Japan's new rocket fails to blast off . AFP . 19 February 2023 . 18 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230218055925/https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/world/2023/02/501_345629.html . live .
  25. Web site: Mike Wall . 2023-02-17 . Japan's new H3 rocket aborts 1st-ever launch attempt . 2023-03-18 . Space.com . en . 18 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230318013610/https://www.space.com/japan-h3-rocket-first-launch-attempt-abort . live .
  26. Web site: Clark . Stephen . First launch of Japan's H3 rocket aborted moments before liftoff – Spaceflight Now . 2023-03-18 . en-US . 19 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230319035449/https://spaceflightnow.com/2023/02/17/first-launch-of-japans-h3-rocket-aborted-moments-before-liftoff/ . live .
  27. Web site: Shiny New Rockets, Old Failed Rockets - Deep Space Updates March 7th . 2023-03-07 . Scott Manley YouTube channel . 7 March 2023 . 8 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230308073129/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AVKP12YE0E . live .
  28. Web site: S . Joseph . 2023-03-07 . BREAKING! Japan's H3 Rocket Fails During Inaugural Launch - TLP News . 2023-03-07 . The Launch Pad . 7 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230307063237/https://tlpnetwork.com/news/2023/03/h3-maiden-flight-anomaly . live .
  29. Web site: Japan launches H3 rocket, destroys it over 2nd stage failure . 2023-03-07 . ABC News . 7 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230307061733/https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/japan-launches-h3-rocket-destroys-2nd-stage-failure-97672795 . live .
  30. Web site: Japan launches H3 rocket, destroys it over 2nd stage failure . 2023-03-07 . news.yahoo.com . 7 March 2023 . 7 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230307061737/https://news.yahoo.com/japan-launches-h3-rocket-destroys-043848201.html . live .
  31. Web site: National . The . 2023-03-07 . Japan destroys new H3 rocket after lift-off as second-stage engine fails . 2023-03-07 . The National . 7 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230307061733/https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/asia/2023/03/07/japan-h3-rocket-launch-failure/ . live .
  32. Web site: Andrew Jones published . 2023-03-07 . Japan's new H3 rocket fails on 1st test flight, advanced Earth observation satellite lost . 2023-03-07 . Space.com . 7 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230307064904/https://www.space.com/japan-h3-rocket-fails-1st-test-flight . live .
  33. Web site: YAMAGUCHI . MARI . 2023-03-07 . Japan launches H3 rocket, destroys it over 2nd stage failure . 2023-03-07 . Times Union . 7 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230307061736/https://www.timesunion.com/news/politics/article/japan-launches-h3-rocket-destroys-it-over-2nd-17823843.php . live .
  34. News: 2023-03-07 . Japanese rocket and disaster-management satellite destroyed in space after engine failure . en-AU . ABC News . 2023-03-18 . 18 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230318013610/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-07/japan-blows-up-rocket-after-engine-failure-in-space/102065166 . live .
  35. News: 2023-03-07 . Hopes crushed as next-gen rocket explodes . The Cairns Post . 2023-03-18.
  36. Web site: Japan Launches H3 Rocket, Destroys It Over 2nd-Stage Failure . 2023-03-18 . thediplomat.com . en-US . 18 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230318013613/https://thediplomat.com/2023/03/japan-launches-h3-rocket-destroys-it-over-2nd-stage-failure/ . live .
  37. Web site: 「H3」ロケット2号機 打ち上げ成功 前回の失敗乗り越える | NHK . 17 February 2024 .