Japan launches H-2A
Posted: Wed, Aug 29, 2001, 11:31 AM ET (1531 GMT)
The Japanese space agency NASDA successfully launched an H-2A booster on its maiden flight early Wednesday. The H-2A lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan at 3:00 am EDT (0700 GMT, 1600 local time) and placed into orbit a test payload. The launch was delayed for three hours because of problems connecting a mobile launch platform with ground equipment. NASDA officials confirmed at a press conference 90 minutes after liftoff that the booster had placed the second stage and the Vehicle Evaluation Payload 2 (VEP2) test satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit. The VEP2 will remain attached to the second stage until the two reenter the Earth's atmosphere in approximately one year. The launch is a major success for Japan, which had not successfully launched a spacecraft in three years. The H-2A is designed to be a more reliable, less expensive version of the H-2, a Japanese launch vehicle retired after back-to-back failures in February 1998 and November 1999. The H-2A's improvements include more powerful second-stage and solid-propellent strap-on engines and a simplified first-stage engine.
The Japanese space agency NASDA successfully launched an H-2A booster on its maiden flight early Wednesday. The H-2A lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan at 3:00 am EDT (0700 GMT, 1600 local time) and placed into orbit a test payload. The launch was delayed for three hours because of problems connecting a mobile launch platform with ground equipment. NASDA officials confirmed at a press conference 90 minutes after liftoff that the booster had placed the second stage and the Vehicle Evaluation Payload 2 (VEP2) test satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit. The VEP2 will remain attached to the second stage until the two reenter the Earth's atmosphere in approximately one year. The launch is a major success for Japan, which had not successfully launched a spacecraft in three years. The H-2A is designed to be a more reliable, less expensive version of the H-2, a Japanese launch vehicle retired after back-to-back failures in February 1998 and November 1999. The H-2A's improvements include more powerful second-stage and solid-propellent strap-on engines and a simplified first-stage engine.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Wednesday, June 3
Vast Signs Two-Mission Agreement With France, Plans Paris HQ
Aviation Week — 5:53 am ET (0953 GMT) Starlink may secure the transport, but who secures LEO data?
Space and Defense — 5:53 am ET (0953 GMT) MDA Space Selected By BAE Systems For U.S. Space Systems Command MEO Epoch 2 Constellation
PR Newswire — 5:51 am ET (0951 GMT) Tampa space company to build floating launchpads for Firefly, Vaya rockets
Florida Today — 5:51 am ET (0951 GMT) Space Force announces national security mission for Blue Origin after rocket explosion
Huntsville Times — 5:49 am ET (0949 GMT) |
