Space

NASDA is building a substantial launch site on the Southern Japanese island of Tanegashima, off the coast of Kyushu. This site will support the new H-1 launcher which is entering service and later the planned Titan 34D class H-2 launcher.

The H-1 launcher has a Mitsubishi (licence) built McDonnell Douglas Delta 2914 first stage. The second stage is a Mitsubishi developed oxygen/hydrogen propellant system, the Nissan designed third stage uses solid propellant. The H-1 has comparable performance to a Delta ELV. Japan’s earlier N-1 and N-2 ELVs were derived from earlier Delta subtypes.

The successor to the H-1, the H-2 with a planned 1992 IOC, will be fully Japanese by design. This vehicle is conceptually similar to the Titan 34D employing a multistage core vehicle with strap-on boosters. Unlike the Titan, the H-2 will use liquid oxygen/hydrogen for both its first and second core stages. The H-2 will lift a 2,000kg class payload to geosynchronous orbit, outperforming the Titan 34D by a margin of around 140kg while falling short of the Ariane IV by a margin of about 180kg. The H-2 will be substantially lighter at launch than either of these vehicles. If Japan proceeds with its Shuttle programme this vehicle would launch on a modified H-2. The Tanegashima spaceport is built along the island coast and at this stage supports the H-1 vehicle. A launch pad for the H-2 is under construction together with a 200ft tall Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) which will be used for processing and stacking the H-2. Assembled H-2s will move to the pad on a rail mobile launch platform.

On a lesser scale Japan’s second space agency, the Institute of Space and Astronautical Sciences, has developed a family of launchers capable of lifting a 700kg class payload to orbit, the latest M-3S-2 was used to support last year’s Halley’s Comet research. ISAS is heavily involved in the evaluation of possible lunar and planetary missions while also cooperating with the National Aerospace Laboratory (NAL) in the development of technologies for the planned 1990’s manned shuttle vehicle.

A large part of ISAS’ activity focuses upon space science, with a respectable track record of sixteen scientific satellite launches since 1970. Latest reports suggest a serious commitment to launching a lunar orbiter probe in 1990, this device will serve both as a technology demonstrator and platform for several experiments.

While the Japanese space effort cannot be compared with the US, European, Chinese and Russian programmes, it must be noted that Japan’s activity is principally civilian and research oriented. It has usefully served to develop a technology base and pool of experience within Japanese industry, even with modest funding over the last two decades. If and when the market for ELVS becomes commercially viable over a sustained period of time, Japan will have the choice of marketing its products if desired.

This strategy avoids the risks inherent in chasing the cutting edge, while allowing commercial exploitation at short notice if opportunities do arise. There is a lesson in there somewhere.

Australian Space Base Soars Through First Stage of Feasibility Process

The Australian space base proposal, sponsored by the Queensland State Government, has soared through the first stage of its in-depth feasibility study. Part one of the evaluation examined matters of potential market interest, prevailing weather conditions at Cape York, access and siting. Phase two is now underway and is expected to be completed this July. Phase two will fine tune much of the data generated in the initial study in addition to moving closer to formalising links with a number of consortium partners.

Meanwhile, Weipa has been provisionally selected as the most likely site. The space base itself would be about ten kilometres from the existing Weipa settlement and would be connected from the Weipa port facility area by both a heavy duty all weather road and by a rail link. The Queensland Government has also agreed to provide all required ground transportation links in addition to the land clearance required for the launch area. Both the Japanese and Chinese Governments are believed to be very interested in joining as co-partners though in the end the facility will be run along the lines of an international airport with any suitable nation being able to operate from the base at a set launch cost, etc. Each operator would also be responsible for the cost of developing their own facilities whether they be for vertical or horizontal launch modes.

Weipa already has a permanent population of some 3000 people and is geographically situated so that launch trajectories pass over water to both the east and west providing a safe area for multi-stage rockets to separate, etc. Present cost estimates run to at least $A1 billion and at present those concerned do not see this as a major hurdle to surmount as a wide grouping of commercial and government financiers would later become involved in the project.

Meanwhile, industry sources in the US have recently reported that the US Commerce Department is seriously concerned with the possibility of a commercial launch site on Cape York. The site Is apparently seen as a means for China and Japan to seriously contest the US in this market area. This could lead to package deals at ‘lower than US launch prices’ thus causing the US a loss of revenue. Cape York has a substantial geographical advantage over Florida and California and this coupled with the lower manhour costs on Chinese and Japanese built hardware ought to translate into some advantage in kg/dollar.

In view of the general belligerent attitude of the US administration to the effects US grain subsidies are having on our rural sector, we doubt if many Australians will feel great sympathy towards the US claims.