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Reference.org
N-I (rocket)
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<p>The N-I or N-1 was a derivative of the American <a href="/facts/Thor-Delta/XyulmLAY">Thor-Delta</a> rocket, produced under license in Japan. The N stood for "Nippon" (Japan). It used a <a href="/facts/Thor_(rocket)/mbFIsEct">Long Tank Thor</a> first stage, a <a href="/facts/Mitsubishi_Heavy_Industries/8sEQU1Yn">Mitsubishi Heavy Industries</a>-designed LE-3 engine on the second stage, and three <a href="/facts/Castor_(rocket)/D3vgsyc7">Castor</a> SRMs. Seven were launched between 1975 and 1982, before it was replaced by the <a href="/facts/N-II_(rocket)/Gfy7kxCw">N-II</a>. Six of the seven launches were successful, however on the fifth flight, there was recontact between the satellite and the third stage, which caused the satellite to fail. </p><p>On 29 February 1976, the second N-I conducted the only orbital launch, as of 17 February 2024, to occur on a <a href="/facts/Leap_day/lJscEwUh">leap day</a>. </p>