Japan's expendable launch vehicles

Attention is given to the configurations, subsystems and performance capabilities of the Japanese National Space Development Agency's N and H model expendable launch vehicles, together with their launch schedules and mission characteristics. NASA Thor-Delta satellite launcher technology has been applied to the N-I and N-II systems. The N-II launch vehicle, which is able to place payloads of about 350 kg in geostationary orbit, is Japan's largest launcher at present. In order to launch large capacity applications satellites however, developmental work is being conducted on a high performance launch vehicle, designated H-I, which will be able to place payloads of 550 kg into geostationary orbit.