Aeronautics, Space and Defence

August 2003

The Ministry of Science and Technology plans to develop an H-IIA rocket with heavy-lift version twice the payload capacity of current versions by fiscal 2007. With the cooperation of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), to be created in October, the ministry will develop the rocket to facilitate cargo transport to the International Space Station and boost competitiveness by holding down the cost of launching commercial satellites. The development plans are expected to be approved by a special committee of the Space Activities Commission. The diameter of the rocket's first stage will be increased from 4 to 5 meters, and a second main engine will be added to double payload capacity. The development cost is estimated at about Y20 billion. MHI will oversee the design and production of the rocket, while JAXA will manage such projects as the remodeling of launch facilities. MHI will shoulder about Y5 billion of the development costs, while the Science and Technology Ministry plans to make a roughly Y1 billion request in the fiscal 2004 budget. Once the International Space Station is completed around 2008, Japan will be responsible for delivering 6 tons of cargo a year to the outpost. The heavy-lift H-IIA would fulfill this with a single launch. The new H-IIA would also be able to place a 4-ton communications satellite into geostationary orbit, putting its capabilities on a par with those of large overseas rockets, such as Europe's Ariane. The production and launching cost of the current version of the H-IIA is Y8.5 billion, compared with Y10.5 billion for the new heavy-lift version. By loading two or three 1- to 2-ton-class satellites, demand for which is high, per satellite launching costs can be brought below current levels. The increase in options is expected to enable companies to more easily enter the satellite-launching business as well.　（August 14, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun）