Lambda (rocket family)

Lambda 4S (replica) and the launcher as exhibited at National Museum of Nature and Science.

Lambda is the name of a series of Japanese carrier rockets.[1][2] It consisted of the types Lambda 2,[3][2] LSC-3,[4] Lambda 3,[5][2] Lambda 3H,[2][6] Lambda 4S,[2][7][8] Lambda 4SC,[2][9] and Lambda 4T[2][10] developed jointly by Institute of Industrial Science of the University of Tokyo, Institute of Space and Astronautical Science of the University of Tokyo, and Prince Motor Company, which merged with Nissan in 1966.[11]

Lambda series rockets did not have guidance systems, as they had the potential to be converted for offensive military use, thus interpreted as a violation of Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution. However, future Japanese launch vehicles, such as the H-II, were allowed to have guidance systems.[12]

  1. ^ "Lambda". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Krebs, Gunter D (2024). "L class". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
  3. ^ "Lambda 2". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  4. ^ "LSC-3". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  5. ^ "Lambda 3". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  6. ^ "Lambda 3H". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
  7. ^ "Lambda 4S". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
  8. ^ "L-4S". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
  9. ^ "Lambda 4SC". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
  10. ^ "Lambda 4T". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
  11. ^ "A short history of the Prince Motor Co., Ltd". Nissan. Retrieved 2020-08-31.
  12. ^ "H-II Launch Vehicle". JAXA. Retrieved 2021-01-01.