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
|
|
New Virgin Galactic spaceplane arrives at Spaceport America
Posted: Sat, Oct 31 10:38 AM ET (1438 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Monday, November 2
Forum: Springs’ space future is bright without Space Command
Colorado Springs Gazette — 5:37 am ET (1037 GMT) S. Korea's Air Force to participate in U.S.-led space war game for 1st time
Yonhap News — 5:35 am ET (1035 GMT) The growing threats that make the Space Force essential
Washington Examiner — 5:33 am ET (1033 GMT) Lawfare against Elon Musk could affect the Artemis program
The Hill — 5:26 am ET (1026 GMT) Southland's global space company won't write down military policy
The Southland App (NZ) — 5:25 am ET (1025 GMT) |
