H-2A Launch Vehicle Ready for Commercial Launch Services

Japan’s H-IIA launch vehicle is well balanced in payload capability, reliability, practicality, safety and cost compared to the former H-II launch vehicle. In realizing these concepts, aggressive efforts to make a less costly, less risky launch vehicle have transformed the H-II into an almost completely new booster. After two successful test flights, The H-IIA launch vehicle has achieved three consecutive successes on its operational mission. In 2002, Japanese Government decided to privatize H-IIA. Then, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., which was assigned as a prime contractor, started H-IIA commercial launch service activity from JFY2003 contract. To meet various customers' needs, the family of H-IIA is growing properly upon the heritage of accumulated technologies through H-II and H-IIA. H-IIA204 version is now under development to bring payload of 6-tons to GTO and will be launched in late 2004. Also, more enhanced version of H-IIA204 is discussed to be developed from 2004 for the ISS logistics transportation or dual launch of large satellites.