Apparently decision was just made to de-manifest ALOS-4 from the 2nd launch of the H3 rocket, with a "dummy" vehicle evaluation payload put up on it instead. Also flight 2's configuration will also be changed to the regular -22 with 2 LE-9 engines and 2 SRBs, instead of the original planned -30 without SRBs and 1 extra engine.(see page 10 of the attached PDF)This launch also features LE-9 1st stage engines w/ medium-term fixes to turbopump blade & combustion chamber cracks found in LE-9's development; longer term fixes are still being tested.
Apparently there's a RFP for H-3 rideshares out now.Not sure if this is the right link or not thoughhttps://aerospacebiz.jaxa.jp/jaxa-smash/call-for-mission2/EDITThis seems to be the right URL...https://aerospacebiz.jaxa.jp/topics/koubo/h3rfi_20230605/Though apparently the deadline was so tight you basically had to have a satellite mostly already finished or ready to go to qualify...There should be an announcement soon of who is gonna ride.
Looks like 2 rideshares announced for H-3 test flight 2 just nowTIRSAT, a 3U sat, and CE-SAT-1E (previously rumored to have been scheduled to ride SpaceX Transporter 9 along with it's sister sat CE-SAT-1D)https://news.yahoo.co.jp/byline/akiyamaayano/20230627-00355449
...The schedule of the second launch will be determined based on the progress of the investigation into the cause of the failure of the first launch.
Iwao Igarashi of MHI says the failure investigation into the first H3 launch was completed last month, and the company hopes to perform a second flight before the end of the year. #WSBW
Per NHK the launch is scheduled on January 11, 2024, to be officially confirmed.The launch vehicle arrived at TNSC in October. This is the 3rd last H-IIA to fly.It also means the 2nd H3 rocket is very unlikely to fly within 2023 - as previous reports all point it to still launching within Fiscal Year 2023, a Q1 2024 launch seems very likely.
Draining of the fairing for H3 test machine No. 2 has already been completed.If you have good intuition, you may be able to predict the approximate launch time.
Name of container for H3 fairing, etc.
From the bottom.
...Explanatory Statement – Request for Special Temporary Authority for Launch ServicesComtech Telecommunications Corp. (“Comtech”), pursuant to Section 25.120 of theCommission’s rules, hereby requests Special Temporary Authority (“STA”) to operate its fixedtransmit/receive earth station at Yona, Guam for a period of up to 180 days to communicate withsatellites to be launched during this period by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency(“JAXA”). The launch window is intended to cover multiple launches using H2A and H3 launchvehicles during which Comtech’s monitoring services will be required. The first launch using anH2A rocket is expected to occur as early as December 28, 2023 and will place a new Earthobservation satellite in orbit. The second launch, which will be the second test flight of the H3launch vehicle with several small experimental satellites onboard, is expected to occur at somepoint during the first quarter of 2024, with a launch window beginning in early February. A full180-day STA is requested to allow for potential launch slippage in each case....
Shown in video:MHI LE-5B-3 (Sea Level nozzle version) testing for H3 RTF:
Information about the second test vehicle has been added to the H3 rocket special site.Rocket performance confirmation payload (VEP-4) [2.6t]It has the same mass as ALOS-3 (Daichi-3).#H3TF2
JAXA H3 RTF Update (in Japanese) Livestream:
Does the second attached slide show the core will fly with one Type 1 LE-9 and one Type 1A LE-9?
Quote from: sdsds on 01/10/2024 08:30 amDoes the second attached slide show the core will fly with one Type 1 LE-9 and one Type 1A LE-9?That is correct.
Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 01/10/2024 08:33 amQuote from: sdsds on 01/10/2024 08:30 amDoes the second attached slide show the core will fly with one Type 1 LE-9 and one Type 1A LE-9?That is correct.What is the difference between Type 1 and Type 1A?
