H3 (rocket)

The H3 Launch Vehicle is an expendable launch system in development in Japan. H3 rockets are liquid-propellant rockets with strap-on solid rocket boosters and are planned to be launched from Tanegashima Space Center in Japan. Mitsubishi and JAXA are responsible for the design, manufacture, and operation of the H3.

H3 Launch Vehicle
A model of the H3 Launch Vehicle
FunctionMedium-lift launch vehicle
ManufacturerMitsubishi Heavy Industries
Country of originJapan
Cost per launchUS$50 million (H3-303S)[1]
Size
Height63 m [2]
Diameter5.27 m[2]
Mass574000 kg (Gross for H3-24L Variant)[3]
Stages2
Capacity
Payload to SSO4000 kg (H3-30S/L) [2]
Payload to GTO
(∆Ｖ=1500 m/s)		4000-7900 kg (H3-24S/L)[2][4]
Launch history
StatusCurrently being manufactured
Launch sitesTanegashima, LA-Y
First flightLate 2020 (planned)[2][5]
Boosters
No. boosters0, 2 or 4
EnginesSRB-3
Thrust2158 kN [3]
Specific impulse283.6 seconds (2.781 km/s)
Burn time105 seconds
FuelSolid
First stage
Engines2 or 3 LE-9
Thrust2942 or 4413 kN[3]
Specific impulse425 seconds (4.17 km/s)
FuelLH2 / LOX
Second stage
Engines1 LE-5B-3[3]
Thrust137 kN[3]
Specific impulse448 seconds (4.39 km/s)
FuelLH2 / LOX

As of July 2015, the minimum configuration is to carry a payload of up to 4000 kg into sun-synchronous orbit for about 5 billion yen, and the maximum configuration is to carry more than 6500 kg into geostationary transfer orbit.[2] The H3-24 variant will deliver more than 6000 kg of payload to lunar transfer orbit.

The first H3 is planned to be launched in the fiscal year 2020.[6][Note 1]

Development

The development of the H3 was authorized by the Japanese government on 17 May 2013.[7] The H3 Launch Vehicle is being jointly developed by JAXA and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) to launch a wide variety of commercial satellites. The H3 was designed with cheaper engines compared to the H-IIA, so that manufacturing the new launch vehicle would be faster, less risky, and more cost-effective. JAXA and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries were in charge of preliminary design, the readiness of ground facilities, development of new technologies for the H3, and manufacturing. The main emphasis in design is cost reduction, with planned launch costs for customers in the range of US$50-65 million.[8]

Firing tests of the LE-9 first-stage engine began in April 2017.[9] In August 2018, the first tests of the solid rocket boosters were carried out.[10]

In earlier plans, the first H3 was to be launched in fiscal year 2020 in the H3-30 configuration which lacks solid-rocket boosters, and in a later configuration with boosters in FY2021.[2][11] During the development of LE-9, many technical problems were found and the engine's development was split into two stages.[6] The type 1 engine would have used a fuel injector machined with conventional methods, along with a suboptimal liquid hydrogen turbopump to avoid vibration resonance. The type 2 engine will use a 3D-printed injector, and the improved turbopump will suppress vibration.[6] To compensate for the suboptimal performance of the type 1 LE-9 engines, the first H3 test flight was changed to use the H3-22 configuration which uses two solid-rocket boosters.[6]

Vehicle description

The H3 Launch Vehicle is a two-stage rocket. The first stage uses liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen as propellants and carries zero, two or four strap-on solid rocket boosters (derived from SRB-A3) using polybutadiene fuel. The first stage is powered by two or three LE-9 engines which uses an expander bleed cycle design similar to the LE-5B engine.[12] The fuel and oxidizer mass of the first stage is 225 metric tons. The second stage is powered by a single engine which is an improved LE-5B. The propellant mass of the second stage is 23 metric tons.[3][13]

Variants

Each H3 booster configuration has a two-digit plus letter designation that indicates the features of that configuration. The first digit represents the number of LE-9 engines on the main stage, either "2" or "3". The second digit indicates the number of SRB-3 solid rocket boosters attached to the base of the rocket, and can be "0", "2" or "4". All layouts of the solid boosters are symmetrical. The letter at the end shows the length of the payload fairing, either short, or "S", or long, or "L". For example, an H3-24L has two engines, four solid rocket boosters, and a long fairing, whereas an H3-30S has three engines, no solid rocket boosters, and a short fairing.[14]

As of November 2018, three configurations are planned: H3-30, H3-22, and H3-24.[14]

A previously mentioned variant, the H3-32, was cancelled in late 2018 when the performance of the H3-22 variant, sporting one less engine on the core booster, was found to be greater than anticipated, putting it close to the H3-32's performance. While the H3-32 would have provided greater performance, JAXA cited SpaceX's experience with their Falcon 9 rocket, which routinely lifted commercial communications satellite payloads to less than the gold standard geosynchronous transfer orbit of 1500 m/s of delta-V remaining to get to geostationary orbit, leaving the satellites themselves to make up the difference. As commercial clients were apparently willing to be flexible, JAXA proposed redefining their reference transfer orbit to something lower, believing commercial clients would prefer the less expensive (if slightly less capable) H3-22 rocket, even if the client had to then load additional propellant onto their satellite for it to reach GEO, than a more expensive H3-32.[14]

As of October 2019, MHI is considering contributing two variants for the Gateway project: an extended second stage variant, and the H3 Heavy variant which would comprise three first-stage liquid-fuel boosters strapped together, similar to Delta IV Heavy and Falcon Heavy. It would have a payload capacity of 28,300 kg to low earth orbit.[15]

Launch services

H3 will have a "dual-launch capability, but MHI is focused more on dedicated launches" in order to prioritize schedule assurance for customers.[16]

As of 2018, MHI is aiming to price the H3 launch service on par with SpaceX's Falcon 9.[16]

Planned launches

Sources: Japanese Cabinet[17]

Date and time (UTC)FlightTypeLaunch sitePayload(s)Outcome
2020 (TBD)TF1H3-22S[6]LP2, Tanegashima ALOS-3Planned
2021 (TBD)TF2H3LP2, Tanegashima ALOS-4Planned
2022 (TBD)F3H3-24L HTV-X1Planned
2022 (TBD)F4H3 DSN-3Planned
2022 (TBD)H3 InmarsatPlanned
2023 (TBD)H3 ETS-IXPlanned
2023 (TBD)H3-24L HTV-X2Planned
2023 (TBD)H3 QZS-5Planned
2023 (TBD)H3 QZS-6Planned
2023 (TBD)H3 QZS-7Planned
2024 (TBD)H3-24L MMXPlanned
2025 (TBD)H3 LiteBIRDPlanned
(TBD)H3 IGS-Optical 9Planned
(TBD)H3 IGSPlanned
(TBD)H3 IGSPlanned
(TBD)H3 IGSPlanned

Notes
  1. A Japanese Fiscal Year starts in April of the year and ends in March of the next year. For this case, it denotes launch will occur no earlier than 1 April 2020, and no later than 31 March 2021
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References
  1. Clark, Stephen (19 September 2017). "Japan's MHI wins deal to launch satellite for Inmarsat". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  2. 新型基幹ロケットの開発状況について (PDF) (in Japanese). 2 July 2015. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
  3. "H3 Launch Vehicle Brochure" (PDF).
  4. https://spacenews.com/mitsubishi-heavy-industries-mulls-upgraded-h3-rocket-variants-for-lunar-missions/
  5. https://spacenews.com/mhi-pressing-through-pandemic-toward-late-2020-h3-rocket-debut/
  6. H3ロケットの開発状況について (PDF). 宇宙開発利用部会 (in Japanese). 10 December 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  7. https://www.chinapost.com.tw/asia/japan/2013/05/19/378945/Japan-may.htm
  8. http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=21491.15
  9. LE-9 燃焼試験 (in Japanese). JAXA. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  10. "Test-firing of booster for H3 rocket". NHK World. 27 August 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  11. http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/12/25/national/science-health/jaxa-plans-to-test-new-large-rocket-from-2020/#.U3KqNIGSzcw
  12. "Development of the LE-X Engine" (PDF). Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Technical Review. December 2011.
  13. 2020年：H3ロケットの目指す姿 (PDF) (in Japanese). JAXA. 8 July 2015. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
  14. H3ロケットの開発状況について (PDF) (in Japanese). JAXA. 29 November 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  15. Henry, Caleb (25 October 2019). "Mitsubishi Heavy Industries mulls upgraded H3 rocket variants for lunar missions". SpaceNews. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  16. Henry, Caleb (12 July 2018). "Blue Origin to offer dual launch with New Glenn after fifth mission". SpaceNews. Retrieved 5 August 2018. H3 is on track for a 2020 debut with a price meant to be on par with SpaceX's Falcon 9.
  17. "宇宙基本計画工程表 (令和元年度改訂)" (PDF) (in Japanese). Cabinet Office. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
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