N-II (rocket)

N-II
The N-II rocket
Function Carrier rocket
Manufacturer McDonnell Douglas (design)
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (production)
Country of origin United States (design)
Japan (production)
Size
Height 35 metres (115 ft)
Diameter 2.44 metres (8.0 ft)
Mass 132,690 kilograms (292,530 lb)
Stages 2 or 3
Capacity
Payload to LEO 2,000 kilograms (4,400 lb)
Payload to GTO 730 kilograms (1,610 lb)
Associated rockets
Family Delta
Launch history
Status Retired
Launch sites LA-N, Tanegashima
Total launches 8
Successes 8
First flight 11 February 1981
Last flight 19 February 1987
Boosters – Castor 2
No. boosters 9
Engines 1 TX-354-3
Thrust 258.9 kilonewtons (58,200 lbf)
Specific impulse 262 sec
Burn time 37 seconds
Fuel Solid
First stage – Thor-ELT
Engines 1 MB-3-3
Thrust 866.7 kilonewtons (194,800 lbf)
Specific impulse 290 sec
Burn time 270 seconds
Fuel RP-1/LOX
Second stage – Delta-F
Engines 1 AJ-10-118F
Thrust 41.3 kilonewtons (9,300 lbf)
Specific impulse 280 sec
Burn time 335 seconds
Fuel HNO3/UDMH
Third stage (optional) – Star-37E
Engines 1 solid
Thrust 68 kilonewtons (15,000 lbf)
Specific impulse 284 sec
Burn time 42 seconds
Fuel Solid
Third stage (alternative, optional) – Burner-2
Engines 1 solid
Thrust 43.6 kilonewtons (9,800 lbf)
Specific impulse 285 sec
Burn time 42 seconds
Fuel Solid

The N-II or N-2 was a derivative of the American Delta rocket, produced under licence in Japan. It used a Thor-ELT first stage, a Delta-F second stage, nine Castor SRMs, and on most flights either a Star-37E or Burner-2 upper stage, identical to the US Delta 0100 series configurations. Eight were launched between 1981 and 1987, before it was replaced by the H-I, which featured Japanese-produced upper stages. All eight launches were successful.

Launch history

Flight № Date / time (UTC) Rocket,
Configuration		 Launch site Payload Payload mass Orbit Customer Launch
outcome
7(F) 11 February 1981
08:30		 ETS-4 (Kiku-3) MEO Success
8(F) 10 August 1981
20:03		 GMS-2 (Himawari-2) GTO Success
10(F) 4 February 1983
08:37		 CS-2A (Sakura-2A) GTO Success
11(F) 5 August 1983
20:29		 CS-2B (Sakura-2B) GTO Success
12(F) 23 January 1984
07:58		 BS-2A (Yuri-2A) GTO Success
13(F) 2 August 1984
20:30		 GMS-3 (Himawari-3) GTO Success
14(F) 12 February 1986
07:55		 BS-2B (Yuri-2B) GTO Success
16(F) 19 February 1987
01:23		 MOS-1 (Momo-1) LEO Success

See also

References

  • Wade, Mark. "Delta". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 2013-05-22. Retrieved 2008-08-31.
  • McDowell, Jonathan. "Thor". Orbital and Suborbital Launch Database. Jonathan's Space Report. Retrieved 2008-08-31.
  • Krebs, Gunter. "N-2". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2008-08-31.


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