Yoshinobu Launch Complex

Yoshinobu Launch Complex
Full view of the Yoshinobu Launch Complex during roll out of the H-IIA rocket in February 2014
Map
Launch siteTanegashima
Coordinates30°24′08″N 130°58′30″E / 30.40222°N 130.97500°E / 30.40222; 130.97500
Short nameLA-Y
OperatorJAXA, NASDA (former)
Total launches65
Launch pad(s)2
LA-Y1 launch history
StatusActive
Launches54
First launch3 February 1994
H-II (VEP/OREX)
Last launch26 September 2024
H-IIA (IGS-Radar 8)
Associated
rockets
LA-Y2 launch history
StatusActive
Launches12
First launch10 September 2009
H-IIB (HTV-1)
Last launch1 July 2024
H3 (ALOS-4)
Associated
rockets

Yoshinobu Launch Complex[1][2] (abbreviated as LA-Y) is a rocket launch site at the Tanegashima Space Center on Tanegashima. The site and its collection of facilities were originally built for the H-II launch vehicle and later used for H-IIA, H-IIB and H3 launches.

It is the most Northern launch complex at Tanegashima, and along with the now inactive Osaki Launch Complex used for orbital launches. The Yoshinobu Launch Complex consists of two launch pads. The complex also contains a test stand for firing the LE-7 engines used in the first stage of the H-II and its derivatives.[2] Prior to launch, rockets are processed vertically in the complex's vehicle assembly building.[3] The rocket is rolled out to the launch pad on a mobile launcher platform about twelve hours before it is scheduled to launch. It takes around thirty minutes to transport the rocket from the assembly building to Pad 1.[4]

  1. ^ "Tanegashima Y". astronautix.com. Archived from the original on 28 December 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Tanegashima Space Center (TNSC)". JAXA. Retrieved 19 January 2009.
  3. ^ "Launch Preparation Report". H-IIA Launch Services Flight 15. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. 16 January 2009. Retrieved 19 January 2009.
  4. ^ "Countdown Report". H-IIA Launch Vehicle 14. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. 23 February 2008. Retrieved 19 January 2009.