Epsilon (rocket)

Epsilon (rocket)
Epsilon

Artist's impression Function Carrier rocket

Country of origin Japan

Size
Height Diameter Mass Stages 24.4m 2.5m 91t 34

Capacity
Payload to 1,200 kilograms (2,600lb) 250x500km orbit 3 stages Payload to 500km orbit 4 stages Payload to 500km SSO 4 stages 700 kilograms (1,500lb)

450 kilograms (990lb)

Launch history
Status Launch sites Total launches Successes First flight Active Uchinoura 1 1 September 14, 2013

First Stage - SRB-A3

Engines Thrust Specific impulse Burn time Fuel 1 solid 2,271 kN 284seconds 116seconds

Epsilon (rocket)

2 Second Stage - M-34c

Engines Thrust Specific impulse Burn time Fuel 1 solid 371.5 kN 300seconds 105seconds

Third Stage - KM-V2b

Engines Thrust Specific impulse Burn time Fuel 1 solid 99.8 kN 301seconds 90seconds

Fourth Stage (optional) - CLPS

Engines Thrust Specific impulse Fuel 215seconds

The Epsilon rocket ( 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 designed to be capable of placing a 1.2 tonne payload into low earth orbit.

Vehicle description
The development aim is to reduce costs compared to the US$70 million launch cost of an M-V. The Epsilon costs US$38 million (23m) per launch, which is half the cost of its predecessor. Development expenditures by JAXA exceeded US$200 million. To reduce the cost per launch the Epsilon uses the existing SRB-A3 as 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-1 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.[citation needed] The Epsilon is expected to have a shorter launch preparation time than its predecessors. The rocket has a mass of 91 tonnes (90long tons; 100short tons) and is 24.4 metres (80ft) tall and 2.5 metres (8.2 ft) in diameter.[1] Thanks to a function called "mobile launch control", the rocket needs only eight people at the launch site, compared with 150 people for earlier launches.

Epsilon (rocket)

Launch history
Epsilon rockets are launched from a pad at the Uchinoura Space Center previously used by Mu rockets. The maiden flight, carrying the SPRINT-A scientific satellite, lifted off at 05:00 UTC (14:00 JST) on September 14, 2013. The launch was conducted at a cost of $38 million. On August 27, 2013, the first planned launch of the rocket had to be aborted 19 seconds before liftoff due to a botched data transmission. A ground-based computer had tried to receive data from the rocket 0.07 seconds before the information was actually transmitted. The initial version of Epsilon has a payload capacity to low Earth orbit of up to 500 kilograms, with the operational version expected to be able to place 1,200 kilograms (2,600lb) into a 250 by 500 kilometre orbit, or 700 kilograms to a circular orbit at 500 kilometres with the aid of a fourth stage.
Date/Time (UTC) Stages Payload Orbit (km) Outcome Remarks

September 14, 2013, 05:00 4

SPRINT-A (HISAKI) 950 x 1,150 x 31 Successful

Internet leak
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. Solid-fuel rocket data potentially has military value. 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.

References
[1] Epsilon Launch Vehicle Information (http:/ / www. spaceflight101. com/ epsilon-launch-vehicle-information. html)

External links
Epsilon launch vehicle (http://www.jaxa.jp/projects/rockets/solid/index_e.html), JAXA

Article Sources and Contributors

Article Sources and Contributors

Epsilon (rocket) Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=573423555 Contributors: Exenola, Galactic Penguin SST, Hydrargyrum, Martarius, Mycomp, N2e, Oda Mari, Ohconfucius, Phoenix7777, Rwendland, StevenD99, Trurle, WDGraham, Wctaiwan, WikiU2013, Yiosie2356, 23 anonymous edits

Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors

File:Epsilon rocket.png Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Epsilon_rocket.png License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0 Contributors: Saya

License
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported //creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/