5 thoughts on “A New Japanese Launcher”

  3. Bear in mind that Japan is eager for big $ projects; they are trying to spend their way out of their economic slump, and have been for almost 20 years. They were, after all, the most frequently cited example of why a government “stimulus” doesn’t work during the passing of Obama’s “stimulus” plan (that, to the surprise of absolutely no one with a clue, didn’t work).

    Therefor, it surprises me not at all that the Japanese are are funding what appears to be an uneconomic design for a satellite launcher.

    As for the Tangashima launch site, there’s nothing wrong with it in any real sense. It’s on an island south of the southernmost main island, and sited on a peninsula, allowing both polar and low inclination launches. It’s at about 30 north, so not much worse than Kennedy (28 north) .

    The reasons for the restrictions are simple insanity; some local fisherman claim that the rockets disturb the fish throughout the region. There’s no proof, but that’s the claim, and the government gave in to the fisherman’s demands of a YEAR’S notice of launches, plus narrow launch windows (a couple of months in spring and fall). And, on top of that, they get money, too.

    Here’s a detailed explanation.
    http://www.spacedaily.com/spacenet/text/fish.html

    I’ve heard that the launch restrictions have improved a bit, though I don’t know how much. In a sane world, this wouldn’t be an issue at all.

  4. Seems like more of the same. I see no difference between this and the H-IIA. Then again the whole page has little information in it.

    The Japanese were supposed to be working on an a large expander-cycle engine for first stages.

  5. More like a cross between a Delta 2 (many short solids) and Delta IV (all hydrolox), no?

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