With all the recent discussion about launch costs, I thought this would be of
interest:
Details of New Japanese Cost-Cutting Launch Vehicle Leaked
August 27, 2009 | Satellite Today | Staff Writer
[Satellite TODAY 08-28-09] The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is
spending $213 million to develop a small launch vehicle in 2010 to reduce
satellite launch costs by two-thirds, according to Nikkei reports, released
Aug. 27.
JAXA is working with The Japanese Ministry of Science and Technology and
IHI Corp. on the project.
The new three-stage rocket will be 24 meters in length and 2.5 meters in
diameter at its widest section – less than half the size and carrying capacity
of JAXA’s H-2A launch vehicle. The rocket will be able to carry payloads as
heavy as 1.2 tons and use solid fuel for all three of its stages. JAXA claims
that, since it will not have to fill up with liquid fuel, using solid fuel will
cut down on the time that the rocket will need to prepare for liftoff once it
arrives at the launch site.
Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) has a similar business model
and mission in the United States. Falcon-1, SpaceX’s smaller launch vehicle,
uses liquid fuel and costs between $8 and $10 million per launch.
JAXA’s new rocket would bring competition into Asia’s discount launch
vehicle market, as China is also looking to provide cheaper launch services
through its Long-March vehicle.
According to reports, the rocket will cost $32 million to produce and launch –
less than a third of H-2A’s price tag. Falcon-1 missions currently cost between
$8 and $10 million per launch.
The first liftoff is expected to take place as early as fiscal 2012 and will
most likely be used to send space research and solar system satellites into
orbit. Eventually, the new rocket may carry a landing vehicle for Japan’s Moon
exploration project, targeted for 2020, the agencies said in the reports.
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