H-IIA
H-IIA rolls out to the launch pad, February 2014 | |
| Function | Medium-lift launch vehicle |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries |
| Country of origin | Japan |
| Cost per launch | US$90 million |
| Size | |
| Height | 53 m (174 ft) |
| Diameter | 4 m (13 ft) |
| Mass | 285,000–445,000 kg (628,000–981,000 lb) |
| Stages | 2 |
| Capacity | |
| Payload to LEO | |
| Mass | 10,000–15,000 kg (22,000–33,000 lb) |
| Payload to GTO | |
| Mass | 4,100–6,000 kg (9,000–13,200 lb) |
| Associated rockets | |
| Family | H-II family |
| Based on | H-II |
| Derivative work | H-IIB |
| Launch history | |
| Status | Active |
| Launch sites | Tanegashima, LA-Y1 |
| Total launches |
|
| Success(es) |
|
| First flight |
|
| Last flight |
|
| Carries passengers or cargo | |
| Boosters – SRB-A | |
| No. boosters | 2–4 |
| Height | 15.1 m (50 ft) |
| Diameter | 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) |
| Maximum thrust | 2,260 kN (510,000 lbf) |
| Total thrust | 4,520–9,040 kN (1,020,000–2,030,000 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | 280 s (2.7 km/s) |
| Burn time | 120 seconds |
| Propellant | HTPB |
| Boosters (2022, 2024) – Castor 4A-XL | |
| No. boosters | 2–4 |
| Height | 12 m (38 ft) |
| Diameter | 1.02 m (40.1 in) |
| Gross mass | 14,983 kg (33,031 lb) |
| Propellant mass | 13,112 kg (28,906 lb) |
| Maximum thrust | 765 kN (172,060 lbf) |
| Total thrust | 1,531–3,061 kN (344,120–688,240 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | 282.6 s (2.771 km/s) |
| Burn time | 58 seconds |
| Propellant | HTPB/Al |
| First stage | |
| Height | 37.2 m (122 ft) |
| Diameter | 4 m (13 ft) |
| Powered by | 1 × LE-7A |
| Maximum thrust | 1,098 kN (247,000 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | 440 s (4.3 km/s) |
| Burn time | 390 seconds |
| Propellant | LH2 / LOX |
| Second stage | |
| Height | 9.2 m (30 ft) |
| Diameter | 4 m (13 ft) |
| Powered by | 1 × LE-5B |
| Maximum thrust | 137 kN (31,000 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | 447 s (4.38 km/s) |
| Burn time | 534 seconds |
| Propellant | LH2 / LOX |
H-IIA (H-2A) is an active expendable launch system operated by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. These liquid fuel rockets have been used to launch satellites into geostationary orbit; lunar orbiting spacecraft; Akatsuki, which studied the planet Venus; and the Emirates Mars Mission, which was launched to Mars in July 2020. Launches occur at the Tanegashima Space Center. The H-IIA first flew in 2001. As of September 2024, H-IIA rockets were launched 49 times, including 43 consecutive missions without a failure, dating back to 29 November 2003.
Production and management of the H-IIA shifted from JAXA to MHI on 1 April 2007. Flight 13, which launched the lunar orbiter SELENE, was the first H-IIA launched after this privatization.
The H-IIA is a derivative of the earlier H-II rocket, substantially redesigned to improve reliability and minimize costs. There have been four variants, with two in active service (as of 2020) for various purposes. A derivative design, the H-IIB, was developed in the 2000s and made its maiden flight in 2009 before finally retired on its final launch in 2020.