Next Gen H3 Heavy Launching System Nears Completion at Mitsubishi Heavy

 

MHI and JAXA showed the next-generation launching rocket H3 at Tobishima, Aichi, January 23,2021

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) showed H3, the next-generation launching rocket, for the press on January 23, 2021. They will seek demands for satellite launching from governments and corporations. The space launching market is getting more competitive with start-ups scoring more successes and Japan expects to get more orders earlier and enhance reliability records for survival.

The body section of an H3 test unit was shown to the press at Tobishima Plant of MHI in Tobishima, Aichi. Its diameter is 5.2 meters, and its length is 57 meters. Launching capacity will be 1.3 times greater than current H2A and will be able to put larger satellites for broadcasting or communication as much as 6.5 t into orbit. H3 is under development as a replacement for H2A. The original schedule of the first launch of H3 was postponed to fiscal 2021 due to defects of the turbine. After production in Aichi, central Japan, H3 will be transported to Tanegashima, a remote island off Kyushu for launching.

A key point of H3 is the cost. Unit price is to be lowered to about JPY 5 billion in order to appeal to private sector demands, a  weak spot by H2A.  For lowering the price, more off-the-shelf components and increasing the launches of more than six times a year.  The structure of the tip of the rocket has been simplified as well. Lead time from taking the order to launching would be halved to a year.

MHI looks forward to capturing more customers by the appealing previous records of reliability in addition to lower prices. In the first phase, H3 will be confirmed of its performance as well as used for optical communication satellite projects. It will be used for the planned Mars exploration.

MHI has a successful launching record of 98.1% by conventional H2A and H2B, surpassing the world standard of 95%.  Survival in the global market calls for enhanced cost competitiveness by increasing its launching record. ■