N-I rocket

N-I rocket was a Japanese launch vehicle developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in collaboration with NASA. The N-I rocket was based on the Thor rocket, which was used by the United States Air Force for launching satellites into Earth's orbit. The development of the N-I rocket was a significant milestone in the history of Japanese space program, which was established in the 1960s with the help of University of Tokyo, Tokyo Institute of Technology, and ISAS. The N-I rocket played a crucial role in launching several Japanese satellites, including Ohsumi and ISS, into orbit around the Earth.

Introduction

The N-I rocket was introduced in the 1970s as a part of Japan's space program, which was aimed at developing a domestic launch vehicle capability. The development of the N-I rocket was a collaborative effort between Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, University of Tokyo, and NASA, with the latter providing technical assistance and support. The N-I rocket was designed to launch satellites into low Earth orbit, and it was capable of carrying a payload of up to 1000 kg into orbit. The N-I rocket was launched from the Tanegashima Space Centre, which is located on the island of Tanegashima in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. The Japanese government provided significant funding for the development of the N-I rocket, with support from MEXT and JAXA.

Design and Development

The design and development of the N-I rocket was based on the Thor rocket, which was used by the United States Air Force for launching satellites into Earth's orbit. The N-I rocket consisted of a first stage powered by a Rocketdyne engine, a second stage powered by a Aerojet-General engine, and a third stage powered by a solid rocket booster. The N-I rocket was designed to be a reliable and efficient launch vehicle, with a high success rate and a low cost per launch. The development of the N-I rocket involved collaboration with several American companies, including Douglas Aircraft Company, Lockheed Corporation, and Boeing. The N-I rocket was also supported by several Japanese universities, including University of Tokyo, Tokyo Institute of Technology, and Kyoto University.

Operational History

The N-I rocket had a successful operational history, with six out of seven launches being successful. The first launch of the N-I rocket took place on September 9, 1970, and it carried the Ohsumi satellite into orbit. The N-I rocket was used to launch several other Japanese satellites, including ISS and Kiku. The N-I rocket was also used to launch several foreign satellites, including West Germany's Aeros and France's Castor. The N-I rocket was operated by JAXA, which is the Japanese space agency responsible for the development and operation of Japanese launch vehicles. The N-I rocket was supported by several Japanese organizations, including ISAS, NICT, and Japan Space Systems.

Specifications

The N-I rocket had a length of 32.6 meters and a diameter of 2.4 meters. It had a launch mass of 91,000 kg and a payload capacity of up to 1000 kg into low Earth orbit. The N-I rocket was powered by a Rocketdyne engine in the first stage, an Aerojet-General engine in the second stage, and a solid rocket booster in the third stage. The N-I rocket had a maximum thrust of 440,000 Newtons and a specific impulse of 290 seconds. The N-I rocket was guided by a inertial guidance system and a radio guidance system. The N-I rocket was launched from the Tanegashima Space Centre, which is equipped with a launch pad and a launch control center.

Launch History

The N-I rocket had a total of seven launches, with the first launch taking place on September 9, 1970. The launches were carried out from the Tanegashima Space Centre, which is located on the island of Tanegashima in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. The N-I rocket was used to launch several Japanese satellites, including Ohsumi, ISS, and Kiku. The N-I rocket was also used to launch several foreign satellites, including West Germany's Aeros and France's Castor. The launches were supported by several Japanese organizations, including JAXA, ISAS, and NICT. The N-I rocket was retired from service in 1982, and it was replaced by the N-II rocket, which was also developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

Category:Japanese launch vehicles