N-I (rocket)

N-I
	The N-I rocket
Function	Small-lift launch vehicle
Manufacturer	McDonnell Douglas (design); Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (production)
Country of origin	United States (design); Japan (production)
Size
Height	34 m (112 ft)
Diameter	2.44 m (8.0 ft)
Mass	131,330 kg (289,530 lb)
Stages	2 or 3
Capacity
Payload to LEO
Mass	1,200 kg (2,600 lb)
Payload to GTO
Mass	360 kg (790 lb)
Associated rockets
Family	Delta
Derivative work	N-II
Launch history
Status	Retired
Launch sites	Tanegashima, Osaki
Total launches	7
Success(es)	6
Failure	1
First flight	9 September 1975
Last flight	3 September 1982
Boosters – Castor 2
No. boosters	3
Maximum thrust	258.9 kN (58,200 lbf) each
Total thrust	776.7 kN (174,600 lbf)
Specific impulse	262 s (2.57 km/s)
Burn time	37 seconds
Propellant	Solid
First stage – Thor-ELT
Powered by	1 × MB-3-3
Maximum thrust	866.7 kN (194,800 lbf)
Specific impulse	290 s (2.8 km/s)
Burn time	270 seconds
Propellant	RP-1 / LOX
Second stage
Powered by	1 × LE-3
Maximum thrust	52.9 kN (11,900 lbf)
Specific impulse	290 s (2.8 km/s)
Burn time	246 seconds
Propellant	N2O4 / A-50
Third stage (optional) – Star-37N
Maximum thrust	45 kN (10,000 lbf)
Specific impulse	290 s (2.8 km/s)
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). The vehicle used a Long Tank Thor first stage derived from the PGM-17 Thor intermediate-range ballistic missile, a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries-designed LE-3 engine on the second stage,^[3]^[4]^[5] and three Castor 2 solid rocket motors. An optional third stage, the Star-37N solid motor, was used on three of the seven launches.

Seven N-I rockets were launched between 1975 and 1982, after which the vehicle was replaced by the N-II. Six launches were successful. The fifth flight failed after the payload and third stage collided shortly after separation.

On 29 February 1976, the second N-I launch conducted the only orbital launch on a leap day, as of February 2024.^[6]

Launch history

Flight	Date (UTC)	Launch site	Payload^[7]	Payload mass	Orbit	Outcome
F1	9 September 1975 05:30^[8]	Tanegashima, Osaki	ETS-I	82.5 kg (182 lb)^[9]	LEO	Success
F1	ETS-I (Engineering Test Satellite I, nicknamed Kiku-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.^[9] It ceased operations on 28 April 1982.
F2	29 February 1976 03:30^[8]	Tanegashima, Osaki	ISS	139 kg (306 lb)^[10]	LEO	Success
F2	ISS (Ionosphere Sounding Satellite, nicknamed UME) was used to monitor radio waves in the ionosphere and forecast conditions for shortwave communications.^[10] A power supply issue caused Ume to stop functioning one month after launch.^[11]
F3	23 February 1977 08:50^[8]	Tanegashima, Osaki	ETS-II	130 kg (290 lb)^[12]	GTO	Success
F3	3rd stage used. ETS-II (Engineering Test Satellite II, nicknamed Kiku-2) was NASDA's first satellite launched to GEO.^[12] 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.
F4	16 February 1978 04:00^[8]	Tanegashima, Osaki	ISS-b	141 kg (311 lb)^[10]	LEO	Success
F4	ISS-b (Ionosphere Sounding Satellite b, nicknamed 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.
F5	6 February 1979 08:46^[8]	Tanegashima, Osaki	ECS	130 kg (290 lb)^[13]	GTO	Failure
F5	3rd stage used. ECS (Experimental Communications Satellite, nicknamed Ayame). Satellite and third stage collided shortly after separation.^[13] The satellite had the intention of conducting millimeter wave experiments.
F6	22 February 1980 08:35^[8]	Tanegashima, Osaki	ECS-b	130 kg (290 lb)^[13]	GTO	Success
F6	3rd stage used. ECS-b (Experimental Communications Satellite b, nicknamed Ayame-2). Repeat of the ECS mission. Satellite stopped transmitting shortly after separation.
F9^[a]	3 September 1982 05:00^[8]	Tanegashima, Osaki	ETS-III	385 kg (849 lb)^[14]	LEO	Success
F9^[a]	ETS-III (Engineering Test Satellite III, nicknamed Kiku-4) was developed to acquire data on designing earth observation satellites with high power requirements.^[14] ETS-III 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.

↑ Flights 7 and 8 used the N-II rocket

References

1 2 3 4 5 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.
↑ Takenaka, Yukihiko. "N-Iロケット開発の歩み" [The Development History of the N-I Rocket] (in Japanese). 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, Ltd. — Nagoya Guidance & Propulsion Systems Works: Site Overview — History] (in Japanese). 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" [Part 1: In Pursuit of Creative Science and Technology — Chapter 2: Advancing Independent Technology Development — Section 3: The Development of Independent Technology in Leading and Fundamental Scientific and Technological Fields — 2. Space Development] (in Japanese). Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Archived from the original on 15 June 2008. Retrieved 10 February 2011.
↑ Pearlman, Robert (29 February 2016). "Space Station Command Change Is One Giant Leap (Day) for Space History". Space.com. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
↑ "N-I Launch Vehicle". JAXA | Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 McDowell, Jonathan. "Thor". Orbital and Suborbital Launch Database. Jonathan's Space Report. Archived from the original on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2008.
1 2 "Engineering Test Satellite I "KIKU-1" (ETS-I)". JAXA | Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
1 2 3 "Ionosphere Sounding Satellite "UME" (ISS)". JAXA | Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
↑ "ISS a, b (Ume 1, 2)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
1 2 "Engineering Test Satellite II "KIKU-2" (ETS-II)". JAXA | Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
1 2 3 "Experimental Communications Satellites "Ayame" (ECS)". JAXA | Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
1 2 "Engineering Test Satellite III "KIKU-4" (ETS-III)". JAXA | Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Retrieved 18 February 2024.

[14] Flights 7 and 8 used the N-II rocket

[EA-1] 1 2 3 4 5 Wade, Mark. "Delta". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 17 August 2013. Retrieved 3 September 2008.

[JAXA-archive-2] "JAXA Digital Archives". Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Archived from the original on 9 September 2009. Retrieved 1 October 2009.

[3] Takenaka, Yukihiko. "N-Iロケット開発の歩み" [The Development History of the N-I Rocket] (in Japanese). NASDA. Retrieved 10 February 2011.

[MHInagoya-4] "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, Ltd. — Nagoya Guidance & Propulsion Systems Works: Site Overview — History] (in Japanese). Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Archived from the original on 4 July 2011. Retrieved 10 February 2011.

[5] "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" [Part 1: In Pursuit of Creative Science and Technology — Chapter 2: Advancing Independent Technology Development — Section 3: The Development of Independent Technology in Leading and Fundamental Scientific and Technological Fields — 2. Space Development] (in Japanese). Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Archived from the original on 15 June 2008. Retrieved 10 February 2011.

[x-6] Pearlman, Robert (29 February 2016). "Space Station Command Change Is One Giant Leap (Day) for Space History". Space.com. Retrieved 2 November 2017.

[7] "N-I Launch Vehicle". JAXA | Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Retrieved 18 February 2024.

[JSR-8] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 McDowell, Jonathan. "Thor". Orbital and Suborbital Launch Database. Jonathan's Space Report. Archived from the original on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2008.

[:0-9] 1 2 "Engineering Test Satellite I "KIKU-1" (ETS-I)". JAXA | Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Retrieved 18 February 2024.

[:1-10] 1 2 3 "Ionosphere Sounding Satellite "UME" (ISS)". JAXA | Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Retrieved 18 February 2024.

[11] "ISS a, b (Ume 1, 2)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 18 February 2024.

[:2-12] 1 2 "Engineering Test Satellite II "KIKU-2" (ETS-II)". JAXA | Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Retrieved 18 February 2024.

[:3-13] 1 2 3 "Experimental Communications Satellites "Ayame" (ECS)". JAXA | Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Retrieved 18 February 2024.

[:4-15] 1 2 "Engineering Test Satellite III "KIKU-4" (ETS-III)". JAXA | Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Retrieved 18 February 2024.

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Classes	Sounding rocket Small-lift launch vehicle Medium-lift launch vehicle Heavy-lift launch vehicle Super heavy-lift launch vehicle
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N-I (rocket)

Launch history

See also

References