Japan betting on space, but starts with a flop
Japan’s new H3 rocket is designed to replace an old one and cut costs. But Japan’s space agency, which is working Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, has to first prove the reliability of the new technology after its first launch failed.
Tokyo (AsiaNews) – Like in the 1950s and 1960s, the space race is once again at the centre of global technological competition, involving government space agencies as well as private industry.
As the sector expands, Japan is determined to play a leading role thanks to its new H3 launch vehicles
To this end, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has launched an ambitious technological and infrastructure development programme in cooperation with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries with the aim of expanding the country's presence in the sector and consolidating its position as an aerospace powerhouse.
For Japan, the timing is extremely propitious, and not only because of growing demand; by invading Ukraine, Russia has isolated itself internationally, leaving major gap in the space market.
“We’re receiving twice as many inquiries about our service,” said Iwao Igarashi, General Manager for business development at Integrated Defense and Space Systems at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
The H3 launch vehicle is Japan’s trump card. As the first generation of Japanese rockets to enter service in more than 22 years, it is meant to replace the H2A series, which was introduced in 2001.
Compared to its predecessor, known for its reliability (only one launch out of 46 failed), the H3 rocket should have a slightly greater load capacity but above all lower costs.
Launching an H2A costs about US$ 90 million, far higher than the US$ 67 million for SpaceX's Falcon-9, and so it is not competitive.
The new H3s slashes costs to around US$ 50 million, but to bring them onto the market, JAXA and Mitsubishi must prove their reliability.
This is where problems begin for Japan. Last Friday the first launch of an H3 was supposed to take place at the Tanegashima Space Centre in order to put into orbit a satellite equipped with sensors for military use, even though it was built to monitor natural disasters.
In the days leading up to the launch, everyone was nervous over the rocket’s new electronic components and engine, for good reason. The first test was not completed because the auxiliary booster engines failed to ignite.
For Masashi Okada, project manager of the H3 development team, the problem was not related to the engines but was most likely in an electrical system in the first stage.
He refused to call the test a failure, saying that he hoped the problem could be fixed and another launch done before the launch window closes om 10 March.
This is especially important since the H3 is already behind schedule. The first launch was set for March 2021, but technical issues related to some components postponed it by almost two years.
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03/07/2017 09:22
24/10/2007
