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Epsilon (rocket)

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Epsilon
Epsilon flight F2 before launch in December 2016
FunctionLaunch vehicle
Country of originJapan
Cost per launchUS$39 million[1]
Size
Height24.4 m (Demonstration Flight)
26 m (Enhanced)
27.2 m (Epsilon S)[2]
Diameter2.5 m
Mass91 t (Demonstration Flight)
95.4 t (Enhanced)
~100 t (Epsilon S)
Stages3–4
Capacity
Payload to 250 x 500 km orbit
Standard 3 stages configuration
Mass1,500 kg (3,300 lb)
Payload to 500 km orbit
Optional 4 stages configuration
Mass700 kg (1,500 lb)
Payload to 500 km orbit
Epsilon S
Mass1,400 kg (3,100 lb)[2]
Payload to 500 km SSO
Optional 4 stages configuration
Mass590 kg (1,300 lb)
Payload to 700 km SSO
Epsilon S
Mass600 kg (1,300 lb)[2]
Launch history
StatusActive
Launch sitesUchinoura
Total launches6
Success(es)5
Failure(s)1
Partial failure(s)0
First flight14 September 2013
Last flight12 October 2022
First stage (Demonstration Flight/Enhanced) – SRB-A3
Powered by1 solid
Maximum thrust2,271 kN (511,000 lbf)[3]
Specific impulse284 s (2.79 km/s)
Burn time116 seconds
First stage (Epsilon S) – SRB-3
Powered by1 solid
Maximum thrust2,158 kN (485,000 lbf)[4]
Specific impulse283.6 s (2.781 km/s)
Burn time105 seconds
Second stage (Demonstration Flight) – M-34c
Powered by1 solid
Maximum thrust371.5 kN (83,500 lbf)[3]
Specific impulse300 s (2.9 km/s)
Burn time105 seconds
Second stage (Enhanced) – M-35
Powered by1 solid
Maximum thrust445 kN (100,000 lbf)[3]
Specific impulse295 s (2.89 km/s)[5]
Burn time129 seconds [5]
Second stage (Epsilon S) – E-21[2]
Powered by1 solid
Maximum thrust610 kN (140,000 lbf)[2]
Specific impulse294.5 s (2.888 km/s)[2]
Burn time120 seconds[2]
Third stage (Demonstration Flight) – KM-V2b
Powered by1 solid
Maximum thrust99.8 kN (22,400 lbf)[3]
Specific impulse301 s (2.95 km/s)
Burn time90 seconds
Third stage (Enhanced) – KM-V2c
Powered by1 solid
Maximum thrust99.6 kN (22,400 lbf)[3]
Specific impulse299 s (2.93 km/s)[5]
Burn time91 seconds[5]
Third stage (Epsilon S) – E-31[6]
Powered by1 solid
Maximum thrust135 kN (30,000 lbf)[6]
Specific impulse~295 s (2.89 km/s)
Burn time108 seconds[6]
Fourth stage (Optional) – CLPS
Maximum thrust40.8 N (9.2 lbf)
Specific impulse215 s (2.11 km/s)[3]
Burn time1100 seconds (maximum)
PropellantHydrazine
[edit on Wikidata]

The Epsilon Launch Vehicle, or Epsilon rocket (イプシロンロケット, Ipushiron roketto) (formerly Advanced Solid Rocket), is a Japanese solid-fuel rocket designed to launch scientific satellites. It is a follow-on project to the larger and more expensive M-V rocket which was retired in 2006. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) began developing the Epsilon in 2007. It is capable of placing a 590 kg payload into Sun-synchronous orbit.[7]

Vehicle description

[edit]

The development aim is to reduce the US$70 million launch cost of an M-V;[8] the Epsilon costs US$38 million per launch.[9] Development expenditures by JAXA exceeded US$200 million.[9]

To reduce the cost per launch the Epsilon uses the existing SRB-A3, a solid rocket booster on the H-IIA rocket, as its first stage. Existing M-V upper stages will be used for the second and third stages, with an optional fourth stage available for launches to higher orbits. The J-I rocket, which was developed during the 1990s but abandoned after just one launch, used a similar design concept, with an H-II booster and Mu-3S-II upper stages.[10]

The Epsilon is expected to have a shorter launch preparation time than its predecessors;[11][12][13] a function called "mobile launch control" greatly shortens the launch preparation time, and needs only eight people at the launch site,[14] compared with 150 people for earlier systems.[15]

The rocket has a mass of 91 t (90 long tons; 100 short tons) and is 24.4 m (80 ft) tall and 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) in diameter.[16][17]

Enhanced version

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After the successful launch of the Epsilon first flight (demonstration flight), the improvement plan was decided to handle the planned payloads (ERG and ASNARO-2).[18]

Requirements for the improvement:[18]

  • Apogee ≧ 28700 km (summer launch), ≧ 31100 km (winter launch) of a 365 kg payload
  • Sun-synchronous orbit (500 km) of a ≧ 590 kg payload
  • Larger fairing

Planned characteristics:[18]

  • Height: 26.0 m
  • Diameter: 2.5 m
  • Mass: 95.1 t (Standard) / 95.4 t (optional 4th stage (post-boost stage))

Catalog performance according to IHI Aerospace:[19]

  • Low Earth orbit 250 km × 500 km for 1.5 t
  • Sun-synchronous orbit 500 km × 500 km for 0.6 t

Final characteristics:[7][20]

  • Height: 26.0 m
  • Diameter: 2.6 m (max), 2.5 m (fairing)
  • Mass: 95.4 t (standard) / 95.7 t (optional)

Epsilon S

[edit]

Epsilon's first stage has been the modified SRB-A3 which is the solid-rocket booster of H-IIA. As the H-IIA is to be decommissioned and to be replaced by H3, Epsilon is to be replaced by new version, named Epsilon S.[21]

Major changes of Epsilon S from Epsilon are:[21]

  • The first stage is based on SRB-3, the strap-on solid-rocket booster of H3.
  • The third stage is a new design, whereas Epsilon's third stage was based on the M-V's third stage. New third stage is three-axis stabilized using Post-Boost Stage (PBS), whereas Epsilon's third stage was spin-stabilized. Also the third stage is outside the fairing, whereas Epsilon's fairing covered the third stage.
  • The Epsilon S Post-Boost Stage is mandatory, whereas Epsilon's PBS was optional.

Planned performance of Epsilon S is:[21]

  • Sun-synchronous orbit (350 – 700 km): ≧ 600 kg
  • Low Earth orbit (500 km): ≧ 1400 kg

The first launch of Epsilon S is planned in 2023.[21]

On July 14, 2023, the second stage of Epsilon S failed during a test firing.[22]

Launch statistics

[edit]

Launch outcomes

[edit]
1
2013
'14
'15
'16
'17
'18
'19
2020
'21
'22
  •   Failure
  •   Partial failure
  •   Success
  •   Planned

Launch history

[edit]

Epsilon launch vehicles are launched from a pad at the Uchinoura Space Center previously used by Mu launch vehicles. The maiden flight, carrying the SPRINT-A scientific satellite, lifted off at 05:00 UTC (14:00 JST) on 14 September 2013. The launch was conducted at a cost of US$38 million.[23]

On 27 August 2013, the first planned launch of the launch vehicle had to be aborted 19 seconds before liftoff because of a botched data transmission. A ground-based computer had tried to receive data from the launch vehicle 0.07 seconds before the information was actually transmitted.[24]

The initial version of Epsilon has a payload capacity to low Earth orbit of up to 500 kilograms,[25][26] with the operational version expected to be able to place 1,200 kg (2,600 lb) into a 250 by 500 km (160 by 310 mi) orbit, or 700 kg (1,500 lb) to a circular orbit at 500 km (310 mi) with the aid of a hydrazine fueled stage.[9]

Flight No. Date / time (UTC) Rocket,
Configuration 		Launch site Payload Payload mass Orbit Customer Launch
outcome
1 14 September 2013
05:00:00 		Epsilon 4 Stages [27] Uchinoura Space Center SPRINT-A (HISAKI) 340 kg LEO JAXA Success
Demonstration Flight
2 20 December 2016
11:00:00 [28] 		Epsilon 3 Stages Uchinoura Space Center ERG (ARASE) 350 kg [29] Geocentric JAXA Success
3 17 January 2018
21:06:11 [30] 		Epsilon 4 Stages [31] Uchinoura Space Center ASNARO-2 570 kg SSO Japan Space Systems Success
4 18 January 2019
00:50:20 [32] 		Epsilon 4 Stages Uchinoura Space Center RAPIS-1
MicroDragon
RISESAT
ALE-1
OrigamiSat-1
AOBA-VELOX-IV
NEXUS 		200 kg SSO JAXA Success[28]
Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration-1; component demonstration and technology validation.[33]
5 9 November 2021
00:55:16 [34][35] 		Epsilon PBS Uchinoura Space Center RAISE-2
HIBARI
Z-Sat
DRUMS
TeikyoSat-4
ASTERISC
ARICA
NanoDragon
KOSEN-1 		110 kg SSO JAXA Success
Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration-2.
6 12 October 2022
00:50:00 [36] 		Epsilon 4 Stages Uchinoura Space Center RAISE-3
QPS-SAR 3
QPS-SAR 4
MAGNARO
MITSUBA
KOSEN-2
WASEDA-SAT-ZERO
FSI-SAT 		110 kg SSO JAXA, iQPS Failure
RAISE-3 and the six CubeSats were part of Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration-3. QPS-SAR 3/4 were Epsilon's first commercial satellites launch contracts. Vehicle was destroyed by flight termination system shortly after second stage cutoff due to an attitude control fault.[36][37] A report regarding the cause has been published and is available for viewing, although it is in Japanese.[38]

Planned launches

[edit]
Date / time (UTC) Rocket,
Configuration 		Launch site Payload Orbit Customer
2024[39] Epsilon S Uchinoura Space Center LOTUSat-1[40] SSO VNSC
2025 Epsilon S Uchinoura Space Center Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration-4 LEO JAXA
2025[41] Epsilon S Uchinoura Space Center DESTINY+ Heliocentric JAXA
2027 Epsilon S Uchinoura Space Center Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration-5 LEO JAXA
July 2028[42] Epsilon S Uchinoura Space Center Solar-C EUVST[43][44] SSO JAXA
2028 Epsilon S Uchinoura Space Center JASMINE[45] SSO JAXA
2029 Epsilon S Uchinoura Space Center Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration-6 LEO JAXA
2030[46] Epsilon S Uchinoura Space Center HiZ-GUNDAM [ja] SSO JAXA
2031 Epsilon S Uchinoura Space Center Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration-7 LEO JAXA

Sources: Japanese Cabinet[47]

Internet data leak

[edit]

In November 2012, JAXA reported that there had been a possible leak of rocket data due to a computer virus. JAXA had previously been a victim of cyber-attacks, possibly for espionage purposes.[48] Solid-fuel rocket data potentially has military value,[48] and Epsilon is considered as potentially adaptable to an intercontinental ballistic missile.[49] The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency removed the infected computer from its network, and said its M-V rocket and H-IIA and H-IIB rockets may have been compromised.[50]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "U.S. GAO - Surplus Missile Motors: Sale Price Drives Potential Effects on DOD and Commercial Launch Providers". U.S. Government Accountability Office. 16 August 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "イプシロンSロケット開発状況に関する説明会" [Press Briefing on the development status of the Epsilon S rocket] (PDF) (in Japanese). JAXA. 7 July 2023. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "イプシロンロケットの開発および準備状況" (PDF). JAXA. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  4. ^ "H3 Launch Vehicle Brochure" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 February 2017. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  5. ^ a b c d Koki KITAGAWA; Shinichiro TOKUDOME; Keiichi HORI; Haruhito TANNO; Nobuyuki NAKANO2 (2019). "Development and Flight Results of Solid Propulsion System for Enhanced Epsilon Launch Vehicle". Trans. JSASS Aerospace Tech. Japan. 17 (3): 289–294. Bibcode:2019JSAST..17..289K. doi:10.2322/tastj.17.289. Retrieved 9 March 2023.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ a b c "イプシロンSロケット第3段モータ（E-31）地上燃焼試験結果" [Results of ground test firing of 3rd stage of the Epsilon S rocket (E-31)]. 9 June 2023. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  7. ^ a b "Epsilon Launch Vehicle" (PDF). JAXA. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  8. ^ "Asteroid probe, rocket get nod from Japanese panel". Spaceflight Now. 11 August 2010. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  9. ^ a b c Clark, Stephen (14 September 2013). "Japan's 'affordable' Epsilon rocket triumphs on first flight". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  10. ^ "J-I Launch Vehicle". Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. 2007. Archived from the original on 18 August 2012. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
  11. ^ "Epsilon launch vehicle". JAXA. Archived from the original on 21 January 2013. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  12. ^ Yasuhiro Morita; Takayuki Imoto; Hiroto Habu; Hirohito Ohtsuka; Keiichi Hori; Takemasa Koreki; Apollo Fukuchi; Yasuyuki Uekusa; Ryojiro Akiba (10 July 2009). "Advanced Solid Rocket Launcher and its Evolution" (PDF). 27th International Symposium on Space Technology and Science.
  13. ^ Kazuyuki Miho; Toshiaki Hara; Satoshi Arakawa; Yasuo Kitai; Masao Yamanishi (10 July 2009). "A minimized facility concept of the Advanced Solid Rocket launch operation" (PDF). 27th International Symposium on Space Technology and Science.
  14. ^ Zhao, Long; Xin, Chao-Jun; Shi, Mei-Ling; Yang, Chen; Wang, Huai-Peng (1 March 2020). "Current Status of Research on Space Emergency Launch". Journal of Physics: Conference Series. 1510 (1): 012023. Bibcode:2020JPhCS1510a2023Z. doi:10.1088/1742-6596/1510/1/012023. ISSN 1742-6588. See figure 6
  15. ^ Keating, Fiona (14 September 2013). "Japan's Laptop-Controlled Space Rocket Blasts Off (video)". International Business Times. Archived from the original on 23 September 2013.
  16. ^ "JAXA readies small rocket to break cost, use barriers". Japan Times. 9 November 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
  17. ^ Epsilon Launch Vehicle Information
  18. ^ a b c "強化型イプシロンロケット プロジェクト移行審査の結果について" (PDF). 30 October 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  19. ^ "EPSILON a solid propellant launch vehicle for new age" (PDF). IHI Aerospace. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 January 2018. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  20. ^ イプシロンロケットについて (PDF) (in Japanese). JAXA. 24 November 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  21. ^ a b c d 「イプシロンSロケットの開発及び打上げ輸送サービス事業の実施に関する基本協定」の締結について (in Japanese). JAXA. 12 June 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  22. ^ "Cosmic Penguin".
  23. ^ "eepsilon rocket all aces this time". Asahi Shimbun. Archived from the original on 23 September 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  24. ^ "Launch rehearsed for new rocket". Japan Times. 9 September 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  25. ^ "Interview: Yasuhiro Morita, Project Manager, Epsilon Launch Vehicle". JAXA. Archived from the original on 23 November 2012. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  26. ^ Stephen Clark (5 November 2012). "Japan schedules launch of innovative Epsilon rocket". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
  27. ^ "Launch Result of Epsilon-1 with SPRINT-A aboard". JAXA. 14 September 2013. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2013.
  28. ^ a b "Success of Epsilon-2 Launch with ERG Aboard". JAXA. 20 December 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  29. ^ "Exploration of energization and Radiation in Geospace (ERG)". JAXA. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  30. ^ "JAXA launches Epsilon-3 rocket". No. 17 January 2018. NHK World. Archived from the original on 18 January 2018. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  31. ^ "Pre-Dawn Epsilon Liftoff Sends Japanese Radar-Imaging Satellite into Orbit". Spaceflight101. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  32. ^ "Epsilon 4 launched by JAXA". 18 January 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  33. ^ "革新的衛星技術実証1号機に搭載する実証テーマ候補" (in Japanese). JAXA. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  34. ^ "Launch Schedule". Spaceflight Now. 30 October 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  35. ^ "革新的衛星技術実証２号機" [Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration No. 2] (in Japanese). JAXA. June 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  36. ^ a b "Epsilon launched by JAXA". 12 October 2022. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  37. ^ Clark, Stephen (18 October 2022). "Failure of Japan's Epsilon rocket blamed on attitude control system". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  38. ^ 宇宙航空研究開発機構, 国立研究開発法人 (19 May 2023). "Report on the investigation into the cause of the launch failure of Epsilon Rocket 6" (PDF). Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  39. ^ "The 'LOTUSat-1' Project—NEC's Interdepartmental Team's First Satellite System Export to Elevate Vietnam's Space Capabilities". NEC. 28 September 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  40. ^ ベトナム向け地球観測衛星「LOTUSat-1」のイプシロンロケットによる打上げ受託について (in Japanese). JAXA. 12 June 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  41. ^ Jones, Andrew (6 November 2023). "Japan's mission to bizarre asteroid Phaethon delayed to 2025". Space.com. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  42. ^ Shimizu, Toshifumi (15 December 2023). SH54A-03 The SOLAR-C EUVST mission: Coronal physics advanced by novel EUV spectroscopy. AGU23. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  43. ^ This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  44. ^ "Instruments | Next-generation solar-observing satellite Solar-C_EUVST". NAOJ. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  45. ^ "JASMINE（赤外線位置天文観測衛星）で拓く天の川中心核と地球型惑星の探査" [JASMINE (Infrared Astrometry Satellite) will pioneer the exploration of the Milky Way's core and terrestrial planets] (PDF). NAOJ News (in Japanese). No. 332. National Astronomical Observatory of Japan. 1 March 2021. p. 6. ISSN 0915-8863. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  46. ^ Yonetoku, Daisuke (8 September 2021). "ガンマ線バーストを用いた初期宇宙・極限時空探査計画HiZ-GUNDAM" (PDF) (in Japanese). Group of Optical and Infrared Astronomers. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  47. ^ "宇宙基本計画⼯程表 (令和５年度改訂)" [Basic Plan on Space Policy (2023 Revision)] (PDF) (in Japanese). Cabinet Office. 22 December 2023. p. 45. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 December 2023. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  48. ^ a b Iain Thomson (30 November 2012). "Malware slurps rocket data from Japanese space agency". The Register. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
  49. ^ "Japan's New Military Buildup Seen as Response to North Korea, China". National Journal. 23 August 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  50. ^ "Virus hits Japan space programme". 3 News NZ. 3 December 2012. Archived from the original on 22 September 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
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