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N-I (rocket)
Japanese launch vehicle

The N-I or N-1 was a derivative of the American Thor-Delta rocket, produced under license in Japan. The N stood for "Nippon" (Japan). It used a Long Tank Thor first stage, a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries-designed LE-3 engine on the second stage, and three Castor SRMs. Seven were launched between 1975 and 1982, before it was replaced by the N-II. 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.

On 29 February 1976, the second N-I conducted the only orbital launch, as of 17 February 2024, to occur on a leap day.

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Launch history

Flight No.Date / time (UTC)Launch sitePayload7Payload massOrbitLaunch outcome
1(F)9 September 197505:308TanegashimaEngineering Test Satellite I "KIKU-1"(ETS-I)82.5kg9LEOSuccess
2(F)29 February 197603:3010TanegashimaIonosphere Sounding Satellite "UME"(ISS)139kg11LEOSuccess
3(F)23 February 197708:5012TanegashimaEngineering Test Satellite II "KIKU-2"(ETS-II)130kg13GTOSuccess
3rd stage used
4(F)16 February 197804:0014TanegashimaIonosphere Sounding Satellite "UME-2"(ISS-b)141kg15LEOSuccess
5(F)6 February 197908:4616TanegashimaExperimental Communications Satellites "Ayame"(ECS)130kg17GTOPartial failure
3rd stage used; Recontact between satellite and upper stage.
6(F)22 February 198008:3518TanegashimaExperimental Communications Satellites "Ayame-2"(ECS-b)130kg19GTOSuccess
3rd stage used; Satellite failed shortly after separation.
9(F)3 September 198205:0020TanegashimaEngineering Test Satellite III "KIKU-4"(ETS-III)385kg21LEOSuccess

Payload Descriptions

Engineering Test Satellite I "KIKU-1" (ETS-1)

ETS-1 was the first satellite launched by the NASDA. It had the objective of acquiring information on N-series launch vehicles, orbit injection, and tracking and control.22 It ceased operations on 28 April 1982.

Ionosphere Sounding Satellite "UME" (ISS)

UME was Japan's first Ionosphere Sounding Satellite.23 It was used to monitor radio waves in the ionosphere and forecast conditions for shortwave communications. A power supply issue caused Ume to stop functioning one month after launch.24

Engineering Test Satellite II "KIKU-2" (ETS-2)

KIKU-2 was NASDA's first satellite launched to GEO.25 It was intended to gather data on geostationary satellite launch, tracking, control, orbit maintenance, and attitude control as well as carrying out experiments on communications equipment. KIKU-2 ceased operations on 10 December 1990, leaving GEO.

Ionosphere Sounding Satellite "UME-2" (ISS-b)

UME-2 had similar goals to the original UME satellite, but was much more successful in carrying them out. While it was originally intended to gather data for only a year and a half, UME-2 ceased operations on 23 February 1983.

Experimental Communications Satellites "Ayame/Ayame-2" (ECS/ECS-b)

Both ECS satellites were unsuccessful in completing their mission. During the first ECS launch, the third stage rocket collided with the satellite shortly after separation. During the ECS-2 launch, the satellite stopped transmitting shortly after separation. The satellites had the intention of conducting millimeter wave experiments. The JAXA website states that "we learned some valuable lessons on satellite separation technology and apogee engine from this experience".26

About Engineering Test Satellite III "KIKU-4" (ETS-III)

KIKU-4 was developed to acquire data on designing earth observation satellites with high power requirements.27 KIKU-4 completed testing of three-axis attitude control, deployable solar panels, movable heat control, and ion engine operation. On 8 April 1985, the satellite ran out of fuel and ceased operation.

See also

References

  1. "N-Iロケット開発の歩み". Yukihiko Takenaka, NASDA. Retrieved 10 February 2011. https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jjsass1969/32/362/32_362_127/_pdf/-char/ja ↩

  2. "三菱重工 名古屋誘導推進システム製作所 事業所紹介 沿革". Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Archived from the original on 4 July 2011. Retrieved 10 February 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110704102309/http://202.228.55.2/ngpsw/introduction/history/index.html ↩

  3. "第1部 創造性豊かな科学技術を求めて 第2章 自主技術開発への展開 第3節 先導的・基盤的科学技術分野における自主技術開発の展開 2.宇宙開発". Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Archived from the original on 15 June 2008. Retrieved 10 February 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20080615025750/http://www.mext.go.jp/b_menu/hakusho/html/hpaa198201/hpaa198201_2_030.html ↩

  4. "JAXA Digital Archives". Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Archived from the original on 9 September 2009. Retrieved 1 October 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090909144812/http://jda.jaxa.jp/jda/p1_e.php ↩

  5. Krebs, Gunter. "N-1". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 31 August 2008. http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_lau_det/n-1.htm ↩

  6. Pearlman, Robert (29 February 2016). "Space Station Command Change Is One Giant Leap (Day) for Space History". Space.com. Retrieved 2 November 2017. https://www.space.com/32093-space-station-leap-day-spaceflight-history.html ↩

  7. "JAXA | N-I Launch Vehicle". JAXA | Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Retrieved 18 February 2024. https://global.jaxa.jp/projects/rockets/n1/ ↩

  8. McDowell, Jonathan. "Thor". Orbital and Suborbital Launch Database. Jonathan's Space Report. Archived from the original on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20200801135201/http://planet4589.org/space/lvdb/launch/Thor ↩

  9. "JAXA | Engineering Test Satellite I "KIKU-1" (ETS-I)". JAXA | Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Retrieved 18 February 2024. https://global.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/ets1/ ↩

  10. McDowell, Jonathan. "Thor". Orbital and Suborbital Launch Database. Jonathan's Space Report. Archived from the original on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20200801135201/http://planet4589.org/space/lvdb/launch/Thor ↩

  11. "JAXA | Ionosphere Sounding Satellite "UME" (ISS)". JAXA | Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Retrieved 18 February 2024. https://global.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/iss/ ↩

  12. McDowell, Jonathan. "Thor". Orbital and Suborbital Launch Database. Jonathan's Space Report. Archived from the original on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20200801135201/http://planet4589.org/space/lvdb/launch/Thor ↩

  13. "JAXA | Engineering Test Satellite II "KIKU-2" (ETS-II)". JAXA | Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Retrieved 18 February 2024. https://global.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/ets2/ ↩

  14. McDowell, Jonathan. "Thor". Orbital and Suborbital Launch Database. Jonathan's Space Report. Archived from the original on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20200801135201/http://planet4589.org/space/lvdb/launch/Thor ↩

  15. "JAXA | Ionosphere Sounding Satellite "UME" (ISS)". JAXA | Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Retrieved 18 February 2024. https://global.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/iss/ ↩

  16. McDowell, Jonathan. "Thor". Orbital and Suborbital Launch Database. Jonathan's Space Report. Archived from the original on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20200801135201/http://planet4589.org/space/lvdb/launch/Thor ↩

  17. "JAXA | Experimental Communications Satellites "Ayame" (ECS)". JAXA | Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Retrieved 18 February 2024. https://global.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/ecs/ ↩

  18. McDowell, Jonathan. "Thor". Orbital and Suborbital Launch Database. Jonathan's Space Report. Archived from the original on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20200801135201/http://planet4589.org/space/lvdb/launch/Thor ↩

  19. "JAXA | Experimental Communications Satellites "Ayame" (ECS)". JAXA | Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Retrieved 18 February 2024. https://global.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/ecs/ ↩

  20. McDowell, Jonathan. "Thor". Orbital and Suborbital Launch Database. Jonathan's Space Report. Archived from the original on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20200801135201/http://planet4589.org/space/lvdb/launch/Thor ↩

  21. "JAXA | Engineering Test Satellite III "KIKU-4" (ETS-III)". JAXA | Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Retrieved 18 February 2024. https://global.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/ets3/ ↩

  22. "JAXA | Engineering Test Satellite I "KIKU-1" (ETS-I)". JAXA | Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Retrieved 18 February 2024. https://global.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/ets1/ ↩

  23. "JAXA | Ionosphere Sounding Satellite "UME" (ISS)". JAXA | Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Retrieved 18 February 2024. https://global.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/iss/ ↩

  24. "ISS a, b (Ume 1, 2)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 18 February 2024. https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/iss-a.htm ↩

  25. "JAXA | Engineering Test Satellite II "KIKU-2" (ETS-II)". JAXA | Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Retrieved 18 February 2024. https://global.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/ets2/ ↩

  26. "JAXA | Experimental Communications Satellites "Ayame" (ECS)". JAXA | Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Retrieved 18 February 2024. https://global.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/ecs/ ↩

  27. "JAXA | Engineering Test Satellite III "KIKU-4" (ETS-III)". JAXA | Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Retrieved 18 February 2024. https://global.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/ets3/ ↩