Engineering:Epsilon (rocket)

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Short description: JAXA small-lift rocket family
Epsilon
Epsilon rocket F2.jpg
Epsilon flight F2 before launch in December 2016
FunctionLaunch vehicle
Country of originJapan
Cost per launchUS$39 million[1]
Size
Height24.4 m (Demonstration Flight)
26 m (Enhanced)
Diameter2.5 m
Mass91 t (Demonstration Flight)
95.4 t (Enhanced)
Stages3–4
Capacity
Payload to 250 x 500 km orbit
Standard 3 stages configuration		1,500 kg (3,300 lb)
Payload to 500 km orbit
Optional 4 stages configuration		700 kg (1,500 lb)
Payload to 500 km SSO
Optional 4 stages configuration		590 kg (1,300 lb)
Launch history
StatusActive
Launch sitesUchinoura
Total launches6
Successes5
Failures1
Partial failures0
First flight14 September 2013
Last flight12 October 2022
First stage – SRB-A3
Engines1 solid
Thrust2271 kN[2]
Specific impulse284 s (2.79 km/s)
Burn time116 seconds
Second stage (Demonstration Flight) – M-34c
Engines1 solid
Thrust371.5 kN[2]
Specific impulse300 s (2.9 km/s)
Burn time105 seconds
Second stage (Enhanced) – M-35
Engines1 solid
Thrust445 kN[2]
Specific impulse295 s (2.89 km/s)[3]
Burn time129 seconds [3]
Third stage (Demonstration Flight) – KM-V2b
Engines1 solid
Thrust99.8 kN[2]
Specific impulse301 s (2.95 km/s)
Burn time90 seconds
Third stage (Enhanced) – KM-V2c
Engines1 solid
Thrust99.6 kN[2]
Specific impulse299 s (2.93 km/s)[3]
Burn time91 seconds[3]
Fourth stage (Optional) – CLPS
Thrust40.8 N
Specific impulse215 s (2.11 km/s)[2]
Burn time1100 seconds (maximun)
FuelHydrazine

The Epsilon Launch Vehicle, or Epsilon rocket (イプシロンロケット, 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 capable of placing a 590 kg payload into Sun-synchronous orbit.[4]

Vehicle description

The development aim is to reduce the US$70 million launch cost of an M-V;[5] the Epsilon costs US$38 million per launch.[6] Development expenditures by JAXA exceeded US$200 million.[6]

To reduce the cost per launch the Epsilon uses the existing SRB-A3, 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-I 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.[7]

The Epsilon is expected to have a shorter launch preparation time than its predecessors;[8][9][10] a function called "mobile launch control" greatly shortens the launch preparation time, and needs only eight people at the launch site,[11] compared with 150 people for earlier systems.[12]

The rocket has a mass of 91 t (90 long tons; 100 short tons) and is 24.4 m (80 ft) tall and 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) in diameter.[13][14]

Enhanced version

After the successful launch of the Epsilon first flight (demonstration flight), the improvement plan was decided to handle the planned payloads (ERG and ASNARO-2).[15]

Requirements for the improvement:[15]

  • Apogee ≧ 28700 km (summer launch), ≧ 31100 km (winter launch) of a 365 kg payload
  • Sun-synchronous orbit (500 km) of a ≧ 590 kg payload
  • Larger fairing

Planned characteristics:[15]

  • Height: 26.0 m
  • Diameter: 2.5 m
  • Mass: 95.1 t (Standard) / 95.4 t (optional 4th stage (post-boost stage))

Catalog performance according to IHI Aerospace:[16]

  • Low Earth orbit 250 km × 500 km for 1.5 t
  • Sun-synchronous orbit 500 km × 500 km for 0.6 t

Final characteristics:[4][17]

  • Height: 26.0 m
  • Diameter: 2.6 m (max), 2.5 m (fairing)
  • Mass: 95.4 t (standard) / 95.7 t (optional)

Epsilon S

Epsilon's first stage has been the modified SRB-A3 which is the solid-rocket booster of H-IIA. As the H-IIA is to be decommissioned and to be replaced by H3, Epsilon is to be replaced by new version, named Epsilon S.[18]

Major changes of Epsilon S from Epsilon are:[18]

  • The first stage is based on SRB-3, the strap-on solid-rocket booster of H3.
  • The third stage is a new design, whereas Epsilon's third stage was based on the M-V's third stage. New third stage is three-axis stabilized using Post-Boost Stage (PBS), whereas Epsilon's third stage was spin-stabilized. Also the third stage is outside the fairing, whereas Epsilon's fairing covered the third stage.
  • The Epsilon S Post-Boost Stage is mandatory, whereas Epsilon's PBS was optional.

Planned performance of Epsilon S is:[18]

  • Sun-synchronous orbit (350 – 700 km): ≧ 600 kg
  • Low Earth orbit (500 km): ≧ 1400 kg

The first launch of Epsilon S is planned in 2023.[18]

On July 14, 2023, the second stage of Epsilon S failed during a test firing.[19]

Launch statistics

Launch outcomes

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Launch history

Epsilon launch vehicles are launched from a pad at the Uchinoura Space Center previously used by Mu launch vehicles. The maiden flight, carrying the SPRINT-A scientific satellite, lifted off at 05:00 UTC (14:00 JST) on 14 September 2013. The launch was conducted at a cost of US$38 million.[20]

On 27 August 2013, the first planned launch of the launch vehicle had to be aborted 19 seconds before liftoff because of a botched data transmission. A ground-based computer had tried to receive data from the launch vehicle 0.07 seconds before the information was actually transmitted.[21]

The initial version of Epsilon has a payload capacity to low Earth orbit of up to 500 kilograms,[22][23] with the operational version expected to be able to place 1,200 kg (2,600 lb) into a 250 by 500 km (160 by 310 mi) orbit, or 700 kg (1,500 lb) to a circular orbit at 500 km (310 mi) with the aid of a hydrazine fueled stage.[6]

Flight No. Date / time (UTC) Rocket,
Configuration 		Launch site Payload Payload mass Orbit Customer Launch
outcome
1 14 September 2013
05:00:00 		Epsilon 4 Stages [24] Uchinoura Space Center SPRINT-A (HISAKI) 340 kg LEO JAXA Success
Demonstration Flight
2 20 December 2016
11:00:00 [25] 		Epsilon 3 Stages Uchinoura Space Center ERG (ARASE) 350 kg [26] Geocentric JAXA Success
3 17 January 2018
21:06:11 [27] 		Epsilon 4 Stages [28] Uchinoura Space Center ASNARO-2 570 kg SSO Japan Space Systems Success
4 18 January 2019
00:50:20 [29] 		Epsilon 4 Stages Uchinoura Space Center RAPIS-1
MicroDragon
RISESAT
ALE-1
OrigamiSat-1
AOBA-VELOX-IV
NEXUS 		200 kg SSO JAXA Success[25]
Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration-1; component demonstration and technology validation.[30]
5 9 November 2021
00:55:16 [31][32] 		Epsilon PBS Uchinoura Space Center RAISE-2
HIBARI
Z-Sat
DRUMS
TeikyoSat-4
ASTERISC
ARICA
NanoDragon
KOSEN-1 		110 kg SSO JAXA Success
Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration-2.
6 12 October 2022
00:50:00 [33] 		Epsilon 4 Stages Uchinoura Space Center RAISE-3
QPS-SAR 3
QPS-SAR 4
MAGNARO
MITSUBA
KOSEN-2
WASEDA-SAT-ZERO
FSI-SAT 		110 kg SSO JAXA, iQPS Failure
RAISE-3 and the six CubeSats were part of Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration-3. QPS-SAR 3/4 were Epsilon's first commercial satellites launch contracts. Vehicle was destroyed by flight termination system shortly after second stage cutoff due to an attitude control fault.[33][34]

Planned launches

Date / time (UTC) Rocket,
Configuration 		Launch site Payload Orbit Customer
2024[35] Epsilon S Uchinoura Space Center LOTUSat-1[36] SSO VNSC
2025 Epsilon S Uchinoura Space Center Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration-4 LEO JAXA
2025[37] Epsilon S Uchinoura Space Center DESTINY+ Heliocentric JAXA
2027 Epsilon S Uchinoura Space Center Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration-5 LEO JAXA
July 2028[38] Epsilon S Uchinoura Space Center Solar-C EUVST[39][40] SSO JAXA
2028 Epsilon S Uchinoura Space Center JASMINE[41] SSO JAXA
2029 Epsilon S Uchinoura Space Center Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration-6 LEO JAXA
2030[42] Epsilon S Uchinoura Space Center HiZ-GUNDAM SSO JAXA
2031 Epsilon S Uchinoura Space Center Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration-7 LEO JAXA

Sources: Japanese Cabinet[43]

Internet data 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.[44] Solid-fuel rocket data potentially has military value,[44] and Epsilon is considered as potentially adaptable to an intercontinental ballistic missile.[45] 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.[46]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "U.S. GAO - Surplus Missile Motors: Sale Price Drives Potential Effects on DOD and Commercial Launch Providers". U.S. Government Accountability Office. 16 August 2017. http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-17-609. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 "イプシロンロケットの開発および準備状況". JAXA. http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2013/04/20130405_epsilon.pdf. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Development and Flight Results of Solid Propulsion System for Enhanced Epsilon Launch Vehicle". 2019. pp. 289–294. https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/tastj/17/3/17_17.289/_pdf. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Epsilon Launch Vehicle". JAXA. http://www.jaxa.jp/projects/pr/brochure/pdf/01/rocket07.pdf. 
  5. ↑ "Asteroid probe, rocket get nod from Japanese panel". Spaceflight Now. August 11, 2010. http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1008/11japan/. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Clark, Stephen (September 14, 2013). "Japan's 'affordable' Epsilon rocket triumphs on first flight". Spaceflight Now. http://www.spaceflightnow.com/epsilon/sprinta/130914launch/#.UjSh0cbkt8E. 
  7. ↑ "J-I Launch Vehicle". Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. 2007. http://www.jaxa.jp/projects/rockets/j1/index_e.html. 
  8. ↑ "Epsilon launch vehicle". JAXA. http://www.jaxa.jp/projects/rockets/epsilon/index_e.html. 
  9. ↑ Yasuhiro Morita; Takayuki Imoto; Hiroto Habu; Hirohito Ohtsuka; Keiichi Hori; Takemasa Koreki; Apollo Fukuchi; Yasuyuki Uekusa et al. (July 10, 2009). "Advanced Solid Rocket Launcher and its Evolution". 27th International Symposium on Space Technology and Science. https://archive.ists.or.jp/upload_pdf/2009-g-18.pdf. 
  10. ↑ Kazuyuki Miho; Toshiaki Hara; Satoshi Arakawa; Yasuo Kitai; Masao Yamanishi (July 10, 2009). "A minimized facility concept of the Advanced Solid Rocket launch operation". 27th International Symposium on Space Technology and Science. https://archive.ists.or.jp/upload_pdf/2009-g-21.pdf. 
  11. ↑ Zhao, Long; Xin, Chao-Jun; Shi, Mei-Ling; Yang, Chen; Wang, Huai-Peng (1 March 2020). "Current Status of Research on Space Emergency Launch". Journal of Physics: Conference Series 1510 (1): 012023. doi:10.1088/1742-6596/1510/1/012023. ISSN 1742-6588. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341570912_Current_Status_of_Research_on_Space_Emergency_Launch.  See figure 6
  12. ↑ Keating, Fiona. "Japan's Laptop-Controlled Space Rocket Blasts Off (video)". International Business Times. http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/506050/20130914/japan-rocket-blast-computer-controlled-epsilon.htm. 
  13. ↑ "JAXA readies small rocket to break cost, use barriers". Japan Times. November 9, 2012. http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20121109a9.html. 
  14. ↑ Epsilon Launch Vehicle Information
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 "強化型イプシロンロケット プロジェクト移行審査の結果について". October 30, 2014. http://www.mext.go.jp/b_menu/shingi/gijyutu/gijyutu2/059/shiryo/__icsFiles/afieldfile/2014/11/10/1353006_2.pdf. 
  16. ↑ "EPSILON a solid propellant launch vehicle for new age". IHI Aerospace. https://www.ihi.co.jp/ia/en/download/i/IHI_Epsilon.pdf. 
  17. ↑ "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}" (in ja). JAXA. 24 November 2016. http://fanfun.jaxa.jp/jaxatv/files/20161124_epsilon.pdf. 
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}" (in ja). JAXA. 12 June 2020. https://www.jaxa.jp/press/2020/06/20200612-1-2_j.html. 
  19. ↑ "Cosmic Penguin". https://twitter.com/Cosmic_Penguin/status/1679647360983629825. 
  20. ↑ "Epsilon rocket all aces this time". Asahi Shimbun. http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/social_affairs/AJ201309140070. 
  21. ↑ "Launch rehearsed for new rocket". http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/09/national/launch-rehearsed-for-new-rocket/#.UjRVfRb1s08. 
  22. ↑ "Interview: Yasuhiro Morita, Project Manager, Epsilon Launch Vehicle". JAXA. http://www.jaxa.jp/article/interview/vol58/index_e.html. 
  23. ↑ Stephen Clark (November 5, 2012). "Japan schedules launch of innovative Epsilon rocket". Spaceflight Now. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n1211/05epsilon/. 
  24. ↑ "Launch Result of Epsilon-1 with SPRINT-A aboard". JAXA. 14 September 2013. http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2013/09/20130914_epsilon_e.html. 
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 "Success of Epsilon-2 Launch with ERG Aboard". JAXA. December 20, 2016. http://global.jaxa.jp/press/2016/12/20161220_epsilon2.html. 
  26. ↑ "Exploration of energization and Radiation in Geospace (ERG)". JAXA. http://global.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/erg/. 
  27. ↑ "JAXA launches Epsilon-3 rocket". NHK World. https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180118_08/. 
  28. ↑ "Pre-Dawn Epsilon Liftoff Sends Japanese Radar-Imaging Satellite into Orbit". Spaceflight101. http://spaceflight101.com/asnaro-2/epsilon-3-launches-asnaro-2/. 
  29. ↑ "Epsilon 4 launched by JAXA". 18 January 2019. https://news.biglobe.ne.jp/topics/domestic/0118/16235.html. 
  30. ↑ "革新的衛星技術実証1号機に搭載する実証テーマ候補" (in ja). JAXA. http://www.kenkai.jaxa.jp/research/innovative/demotheme.html. 
  31. ↑ "Launch Schedule". Spaceflight Now. 30 October 2021. https://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/. 
  32. ↑ "革新的衛星技術実証２号機" (in ja). JAXA. June 2021. https://www.kenkai.jaxa.jp/kakushin/kakushin02.html. 
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 "Epsilon launched by JAXA". 12 October 2022. https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2022/10/epsilon-raise-3/. 
  34. ↑ Clark, Stephen (18 October 2022). "Failure of Japan's Epsilon rocket blamed on attitude control system". Spaceflight Now. https://spaceflightnow.com/2022/10/18/failure-of-japans-epsilon-rocket-blamed-on-attitude-control-system/. 
  35. ↑ "The 'LOTUSat-1' Project—NEC's Interdepartmental Team's First Satellite System Export to Elevate Vietnam's Space Capabilities". NEC. 28 September 2023. https://www.nec.com/en/global/ad/cosmos/lotusat-1/interview/project-member/index.html. 
  36. ↑ "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}" (in ja). JAXA. 12 June 2020. https://www.jaxa.jp/press/2020/06/20200612-1-1_j.html. 
  37. ↑ Jones, Andrew (6 November 2023). "Japan's mission to bizarre asteroid Phaethon delayed to 2025". Space.com. https://www.space.com/japan-destiny-mission-asteroid-phaethon-launch-delay. 
  38. ↑ Shimizu, Toshifumi (15 December 2023). "SH54A-03 The SOLAR-C EUVST mission: Coronal physics advanced by novel EUV spectroscopy". AGU23. https://agu.confex.com/agu/fm23/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/1295860. Retrieved 26 December 2023. 
  39. ↑ "NASA Approves Heliophysics Missions to Explore Sun, Earth's Aurora" (Press release). NASA. December 29, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2020. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  40. ↑ "Instruments | Next-generation solar-observing satellite Solar-C_EUVST". NAOJ. https://solar-c.nao.ac.jp/en/instruments.html. 
  41. ↑ "JASMINE（赤外線位置天文観測衛星）で拓く天の川中心核と地球型惑星の探査" (in ja). NAOJ News (National Astronomical Observatory of Japan) (332): 6. March 1, 2021. ISSN 0915-8863. https://www.nao.ac.jp/contents/naoj-news/data/nao_news_0332.pdf. Retrieved April 29, 2021. 
  42. ↑ Yonetoku, Daisuke (8 September 2021). "ガンマ線バーストを用いた初期宇宙・極限時空探査計画HiZ-GUNDAM" (in ja) (PDF). Group of Optical and Infrared Astronomers. http://gopira.jp/sym2021/3-6-Yonetoku.pdf#page=4. 
  43. ↑ "宇宙基本計画⼯程表 (令和５年度改訂)" (in ja). Cabinet Office. 22 December 2023. p. 45. https://www8.cao.go.jp/space/plan/plan2/kaitei_fy05/kaitei_fy0512.pdf. 
  44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 Iain Thomson (November 30, 2012). "Malware slurps rocket data from Japanese space agency". The Register. https://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/11/30/jaxa_data_loss/. 
  45. ↑ "Japan's New Military Buildup Seen as Response to North Korea, China". National Journal. 23 August 2013. http://www.nationaljournal.com/global-security-newswire/japan-s-new-military-buildup-seen-as-response-to-north-korea-china-20130823. 
  46. ↑ "Virus hits Japan space programme". 3 News NZ. December 3, 2012. http://www.3news.co.nz/Japans-space-agency-probes-possible-data-leak/tabid/1160/articleID/278923/Default.aspx. 

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