Plan To Develop Commercial Rocket Reported To Gov't

ROCKET SCIENCE

Japan Hopes New Rocket Will Be An Express Ride To The Galaxy

an outgrowth of the J1 program, Galaxy Express could help Japan break into the LEO and microsat launch market

Tokyo - May 8, 2002
The National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) and Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co. (IHI) on Wednesday told government panel of plans to develop a small commercial rocket, government officials said - dubbed GX.

According to the plan present to the Space Activities Commission, the first stage of the rocket would be built under contract by Lockheed Martin Corp. of the United States, and the second stage would use a new natural gas engine being developed by NASDA.

The GX will be 43 meters long, 3.3 meters in diameter, and possess about one-third the liftoff capacity of the Japan's main luncher the H-2A.

It will be able to put a 3-ton satellite into orbit at an altitude of 200 kilometers, and will cost less to launch than comparable rockets in the U.S. and Europe, the officials said.

Galaxy Express, which was formed in March and funded by IHI, will attempt the first GX rocket launch in 2006, the officials said.

The inititive comes as the Space Activities Commission prepared to report this June on the priorities for the launch of domestically produced rockets, which will also address the role of the GX rocket and determine the logistics of financing its launch.

LAUNCH PAD

H2A Has No Commercial Customers

Tokyo - Apr 30, 2002
Japan finds itself in a pinch over its satellite launching business with the H-2A rocket, which has been developed for Japan's full-fledged entry into the international satellite launching market. It has now become difficult for Japan to carry out a satellite- launching contract with a U.S. satellite manufacturer.

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