The H-II (H2) rocket was a Japanese satellite launch system, which flew seven times between 1994 and 1999, with five successes. It was developed by NASDA in order to give Japan a capability to launch larger satellites of the 1990s. It was the first two-stage rocket Japan made using only technologies developed domestically. It was superseded by the H-IIA rocket following reliability and cost issues.
Prior to H-II, NASDA had to use components licen...
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The H-II (H2) rocket was a Japanese satellite launch system, which flew seven times between 1994 and 1999, with five successes. It was developed by NASDA in order to give Japan a capability to launch larger satellites of the 1990s. It was the first two-stage rocket Japan made using only technologies developed domestically. It was superseded by the H-IIA rocket following reliability and cost issues.
Prior to H-II, NASDA had to use components licensed by the United States in its rockets. In particular, crucial technologies of the H-I and its predecessors were from the Delta rockets. The H-I did have domestically produced components, such as the LE-5 engine on the second stage and the inertial guidance system. H-II added to this by domestically developing the LE-7 liquid-fuel engine of the first stage and the solid booster rockets.
The H-II was developed under the following policies, according to a NASDA press release:
Development of the LE-7 engine which started in 1984 was not without...
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