N-I (rocket) - Misplaced Pages

(Redirected from N-I rocket) Booster This article is about the Japanese rocket. For the Soviet rocket, see N1 (rocket).

N-I
Size
The N-I rocket
Function	Carrier rocket
Manufacturer	McDonnell Douglas (design) Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (production)
Country of origin	United States (design) Japan (production)
Height	34 metres (112 ft)
Diameter	2.44 metres (8.0 ft)
Mass	131,330 kilograms (289,530 lb)
Stages	2 or 3
Capacity
Payload to LEO
Mass	1,200 kilograms (2,600 lb)
Payload to GTO
Mass	360 kilograms (790 lb)

Associated rockets
Family	Delta
Launch history
Status	Retired
Launch sites	Tanegashima, Osaki
Total launches	7
Success(es)	6
Partial failure(s)	1
First flight	9 September 1975
Last flight	3 September 1982

Boosters – Castor 2
No. boosters	3
Powered by	1 TX-354-3
Maximum thrust	258.9 kilonewtons (58,200 lbf)
Specific impulse	262 sec
Burn time	37 seconds
Propellant	Solid
First stage – Thor-ELT
Powered by	1 MB-3-3
Maximum thrust	866.7 kilonewtons (194,800 lbf)
Specific impulse	290 sec
Burn time	270 seconds
Propellant	RP-1/LOX
Second stage
Powered by	1 LE-3
Maximum thrust	52.9 kilonewtons (11,900 lbf)
Specific impulse	290 sec
Burn time	246 seconds
Propellant	NTO/A-50
Third stage (optional) – Star-37N
Powered by	1 solid
Maximum thrust	45 kilonewtons (10,000 lbf)
Specific impulse	290 sec
Burn time	42 seconds
Propellant	Solid

[edit on Wikidata]

The N-I or N-1 was a derivative of the American Thor-Delta rocket, produced under license in Japan. The N stood for "Nippon" (Japan). It used a Long Tank Thor first stage, a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries-designed LE-3 engine on the second stage, and three Castor SRMs. Seven were launched between 1975 and 1982, before it was replaced by the N-II. Six of the seven launches were successful, however on the fifth flight, there was recontact between the satellite and the third stage, which caused the satellite to fail.

On 29 February 1976, the second N-I conducted the only orbital launch, as of 17 February 2024, to occur on a leap day.

Launch history

Flight No.	Date / time (UTC)	Launch site	Payload	Payload mass	Orbit	Launch outcome
1(F)	9 September 1975 05:30	Tanegashima	Engineering Test Satellite I "KIKU-1"(ETS-I)	82.5kg	LEO	Success
1(F)
2(F)	29 February 1976 03:30	Tanegashima	Ionosphere Sounding Satellite "UME"(ISS)	139kg	LEO	Success
2(F)
3(F)	23 February 1977 08:50	Tanegashima	Engineering Test Satellite II "KIKU-2"(ETS-II)	130kg	GTO	Success
3(F)	3rd stage used
4(F)	16 February 1978 04:00	Tanegashima	Ionosphere Sounding Satellite "UME-2"(ISS-b)	141kg	LEO	Success
4(F)
5(F)	6 February 1979 08:46	Tanegashima	Experimental Communications Satellites "Ayame"(ECS)	130kg	GTO	Partial failure
5(F)	3rd stage used; Recontact between satellite and upper stage.
6(F)	22 February 1980 08:35	Tanegashima	Experimental Communications Satellites "Ayame-2"(ECS-b)	130kg	GTO	Success
6(F)	3rd stage used; Satellite failed shortly after separation.
9(F)	3 September 1982 05:00	Tanegashima	Engineering Test Satellite III "KIKU-4"(ETS-III)	385kg	LEO	Success
9(F)

Payload Descriptions

Engineering Test Satellite I "KIKU-1" (ETS-1)

ETS-1 was the first satellite launched by the NASDA. It had the objective of acquiring information on N-series launch vehicles, orbit injection, and tracking and control. It ceased operations on 28 April 1982.

Ionosphere Sounding Satellite "UME" (ISS)

UME was Japan's first Ionosphere Sounding Satellite. It was used to monitor radio waves in the ionosphere and forecast conditions for shortwave communications. A power supply issue caused Ume to stop functioning one month after launch.

Engineering Test Satellite II "KIKU-2" (ETS-2)

KIKU-2 was NASDA's first satellite launched to GEO. It was intended to gather data on geostationary satellite launch, tracking, control, orbit maintenance, and attitude control as well as carrying out experiments on communications equipment. KIKU-2 ceased operations on 10 December 1990, leaving GEO.

Ionosphere Sounding Satellite "UME-2" (ISS-b)

UME-2 had similar goals to the original UME satellite, but was much more successful in carrying them out. While it was originally intended to gather data for only a year and a half, UME-2 ceased operations on 23 February 1983.

Experimental Communications Satellites "Ayame/Ayame-2" (ECS/ECS-b)

Both ECS satellites were unsuccessful in completing their mission. During the first ECS launch, the third stage rocket collided with the satellite shortly after separation. During the ECS-2 launch, the satellite stopped transmitting shortly after separation. The satellites had the intention of conducting millimeter wave experiments. The JAXA website states that "we learned some valuable lessons on satellite separation technology and apogee engine from this experience".

About Engineering Test Satellite III "KIKU-4" (ETS-III)

KIKU-4 was developed to acquire data on designing earth observation satellites with high power requirements. KIKU-4 completed testing of three-axis attitude control, deployable solar panels, movable heat control, and ion engine operation. On 8 April 1985, the satellite ran out of fuel and ceased operation.

References

^ Wade, Mark. "Delta". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 17 August 2013. Retrieved 3 September 2008.
^ "JAXA Digital Archives". Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Archived from the original on 9 September 2009. Retrieved 1 October 2009.
"N-Iロケット開発の歩み". Yukihiko Takenaka, NASDA. Retrieved 10 February 2011.
"三菱重工名古屋誘導推進システム製作所事業所紹介沿革". Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Archived from the original on 4 July 2011. Retrieved 10 February 2011.
"第1部創造性豊かな科学技術を求めて第2章自主技術開発への展開第3節先導的・基盤的科学技術分野における自主技術開発の展開 2.宇宙開発". Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Archived from the original on 15 June 2008. Retrieved 10 February 2011.
Krebs, Gunter. "N-1". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 31 August 2008.
Pearlman, Robert (29 February 2016). "Space Station Command Change Is One Giant Leap (Day) for Space History". Space.com. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
"JAXA | N-I Launch Vehicle". JAXA | Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Thor". Orbital and Suborbital Launch Database. Jonathan's Space Report. Archived from the original on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2008.
^ "JAXA | Engineering Test Satellite I "KIKU-1" (ETS-I)". JAXA | Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
^ "JAXA | Ionosphere Sounding Satellite "UME" (ISS)". JAXA | Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
^ "JAXA | Engineering Test Satellite II "KIKU-2" (ETS-II)". JAXA | Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
^ "JAXA | Experimental Communications Satellites "Ayame" (ECS)". JAXA | Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
^ "JAXA | Engineering Test Satellite III "KIKU-4" (ETS-III)". JAXA | Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
"ISS a, b (Ume 1, 2)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 18 February 2024.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries

Mitsubishi

Subsidiaries

Joint ventures

Current	Japanese Aero Engine Corporation Launch Services Alliance Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklifts
Defunct	Atmea Nihon Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation

Products

Aircraft	F-1 F-2 F-15J H-60 MH2000 Mitsubishi SpaceJet T-2 X-2
Armored vehicles	Type 61 Type 74 Nana-yon Type 89 IFV Type 90 Kyū-maru Type 10
Launch vehicles	N-I N-II H-I H-II H-IIA H-IIB H3
Missiles	Type 88 Type 89 Type 90 Type 91
Ships	Akizuki class Atago class Hatakaze class Kongō class Takanami class
Submarines	Harushio class Oyashio class Sōryū class Taigei class
Other	Crystal Mover and Urbanismo Green Mover Max MEISTeR Mitsubishi APWR Wakamaru

People

Kazuo Tsukuda

Other

Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars

Products currently in development shown in italics

Category

v t e Orbital launch systems
List of orbital launch systems Comparison of orbital launch systems
Current	Angara 1.2 A5 Ariane 6 Atlas V Ceres 1 1S Chollima-1 Electron Falcon 9 Block 5 Falcon Heavy Firefly Alpha Gravity-1 GSLV H-IIA H3 Hyperbola-1 Jielong 1 3 KAIROS Kaituozhe 2 Kinetica 1 Kuaizhou 1 1A 11 Long March 2C 2D 2F 3A 3B/E 3C 4B 4C 5 5B 6 6A 7 7A 8 11 11H 12 LVM3 Minotaur I IV V C Nuri OS-M1 Pegasus XL Proton-M PSLV Qaem 100 Qased Shavit 2 Simorgh SLS Block 1 Soyuz-2 2.1a / STA 2.1b / STB 2-1v SSLV Starship Tianlong-2 Unha Vega C Vulcan Centaur Zhuque 2
In development	Antares 330 Bloostar Cyclone-4M Deca Epsilon S Eris Gravity-2 Hyperbola-2 Irtysh Kuaizhou 21 31 Long March 9 10 Miura 5 MLV Neutron New Glenn New Line 1 NGLV Nova OS-M 2 4 Orbex Prime Pallas-1 Red Dwarf SLS Block 1B Block 2 Soyuz-7 Terran R Tianlong-3 VLM Vega E Zero Zhuque 3 Zuljanah
Retired	Antares 110 120 130 230 230+ Ariane 1 2 3 4 5 ASLV Athena I II Atlas B D E/F G H I II III LV-3B SLV-3 Able Agena Centaur Black Arrow Conestoga Delta A B C D E G J L M N 0100 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 II III IV IV Heavy Diamant Dnepr Energia Epsilon Europa I II Falcon 1 Falcon 9 v1.0 v1.1 v1.2 "Full Thrust" Feng Bao 1 GSLV Mk I H-I H-II H-IIB Juno I Juno II Kaituozhe-1 Kosmos original 1 2/2I 3 3M Lambda 4S LauncherOne Long March 1 1D 2A 2E 3 3B 4A Mu 4S 3C 3H 3S 3SII V N1 N-I N-II Naro-1 Paektusan Pilot-2 R-7 Luna Molniya M L Polyot Soyuz original FG L M U U2 Soyuz/Vostok Sputnik Voskhod Vostok L K 2 2M R-29 Shtil' Volna Rocket 3 RS1 Safir 1 1A 1B Saturn I IB V Scout X-1 Blue Scout II X-2 X-2M X-3 X-3M X-4 X-2B B A B-1 D-1 A-1 E-1 F-1 G-1 Shavit original 1 SLV Space Shuttle SPARK Sparta SS-520 Start-1 Terran 1 Thor Able Ablestar 1 2 Agena A B D Burner 1 2 Delta DSV-2U Thorad-Agena SLV-2G SLV-2H Titan II GLV IIIA IIIB IIIC IIID IIIE 34D 23G CT-3 IV Tsyklon R-36-O original 2 3 Universal Rocket UR-500 Proton Proton-K Rokot Strela Vanguard Vega original VLS-1 Zenit 2 2M 2FG 3SL 3SLB 3F Zhuque 1
Classes	Sounding rocket Small-lift launch vehicle Medium-lift launch vehicle Heavy-lift launch vehicle Super heavy-lift launch vehicle
This Template lists historical, current, and future space rockets that at least once attempted (but not necessarily succeeded in) an orbital launch or that are planned to attempt such a launch in the future Symbol indicates past or current rockets that attempted orbital launches but never succeeded (never did or has yet to perform a successful orbital launch)

Japanese orbital launch systems

Space agencies

JAXA

Active	H-IIA H3
Planned	Epsilon S
Retired	Epsilon H-IIB SS-520 (Three stage variant)

ISAS

Retired	Lambda (4S) Mu (4S 3C 3H 3S 3SII V)

NASDA

Retired	N-I‡ N-II‡ H-I‡ H-II

NASDA/ISAS

Retired	J-I¤

Private sector

IST

Planned	ZERO DECA

Space One

Active	KAIROS

Galaxy Express

Abandoned	GX‡

‡ Based around licence-produced US rockets; ¤ Never flew an orbital flight (only 1 suborbital flight performed)

Thor and Delta rockets

Rockets

Thor

Delta

Alphabetical	Delta A Delta B Delta C Delta D Delta E Delta F Delta G Delta J Delta L Delta M Delta N
Numerical	Delta 0100 Delta 1000 Delta 2000 Delta 3000 Delta 4000 Delta 5000 Delta 6000 Delta 7000 Delta 8000 Delta 9000
Modern	Delta II Delta III Delta IV Delta IV Heavy

Export

Launch sites

Canaveral	(S)LC-17 LC-18B SLC-37B
Johnston	LE-1 LE-2
Tanegashima	Osaki
Vandenberg	SLC-1 SLC-2 SLC-3 SLC-6 SLC-10
Bases	Bardney Breighton Caistor Carnaby Catfoss Coleby Grange Driffield Feltwell Folkingham Full Sutton Harrington Hemswell Ludford Magna Melton Mowbray Mepal North Luffenham North Pickenham Polebrook Shepherds Grove Tuddenham

Components

Boosters

First stages

Common Booster Core

Upper Stages

Delta	Delta-A Delta-D Delta-E Delta-F Delta-K Delta-P DCSS
Other	Able Ablestar Agena Altair Burner FW-4D IABS PAM-D Star UM-129

Engines

Manufacturers

Rocket	Douglas McDonnell Douglas Boeing United Launch Alliance
Engines	Aerojet Alliant Rocketdyne Thiokol TRW

Launches

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