&sq=&lang=&file=File:Japanese_sounding_rockets_shapes-01.jpg) Comparison of Japanese sounding rockets | |
| Function | Sounding rocket |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | IHI Aerospace |
| Country of origin | Japan |
S-Series is a fleet of sounding rockets funded by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) that have been in service since the late 1960s. Manufactured by IHI Aerospace and operated by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS). The nomenclature of the S-Series rockets is the number of "S"s indicates the number of stages, and the following number details the diameter of the craft in millimeters. For example, the S-310 is a single stage rocket with a diameter of 310 mm.
On January 14, 2017, the SS-520-4 rocket (modified sounding rocket) attempted to become the lightest and smallest launch vehicle to send a payload to orbit,[1] however, the rocket failed to reach orbit.[2] A second attempt was made on February 3, 2018. This time, the rocket reached orbit and successfully deployed TRICOM-1R (Tasuki), a 3U CubeSat.[3] Its 2018 launch made it the smallest orbital rocket both in mass and height.[4]
| Model | Gross mass | Height | Diameter | Apogee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S-210 | 300 kg (660 lb) | 5.20 m (17.1 ft) | 0.21 m (0.69 ft) | 110 km (68 mi) |
| S-310 | 700 kg (1,540 lb) | 6.80 m (22.30 ft) | 0.31 m (1.01 ft) | 190 km (110 mi) |
| S-520 | 2,300 kg (5,000 lb) | 9.00 m (29.50 ft) | 0.52 m (1.70 ft) | 430 km (260 mi) |
| SS-520 | 2,600 kg (5,700 lb) | 9.70 m (31.80 ft) | 0.52 m (1.70 ft) | 1,000 km (600 mi) |
- ^ "Satnews Publishers: Daily Satellite News". www.satnews.com. Archived from the original on 2017-01-12. Retrieved 2017-01-12.
- ^ "Experimental Launch of World's Smallest Orbital Space Rocket ends in Failure". 14 January 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-07-22. Retrieved 2017-01-15.
- ^ "Japón lanza con éxito un minicohete que logra poner en órbita un microsatélite". NHK World. 3 February 2018. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
- ^ Graham, William (3 February 2018). "Japanese sounding rocket claims record-breaking orbital launch". NASA Spaceflight. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2018.