M-V

M-V
	The fifth M-V launches with the ASTRO-EII spacecraft.
Function	All-solid small orbital launch vehicle
Manufacturer	Nissan Motors (-2000); IHI AEROSPACE (-2006)
Country of origin	Japan
Size
Height	30.8 m (101 ft)
Diameter	2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)
Mass	137,500–139,000 kg (303,100–306,400 lb)
Stages	3 or 4
Capacity
Payload to low Earth orbit
Mass	1,800 kg (4,000 lb)
Payload to polar LEO
Mass	1,300 kg (2,900 lb)
Launch history
Status	Retired
Launch sites	Uchinoura M-V
Total launches	7 (M-V: 4, M-V KM: 3)
Success(es)	6 (M-V: 3, M-V KM: 3)
Failure(s)	1 (M-V)
First flight	M-V: 10 February 2000; M-V KM: 12 February 1997
Last flight	M-V: 22 September 2006; M-V KM: 9 May 2003
Type of passengers/cargo	HALCA, Nozomi,; ASTRO-E, Hayabusa; Suzaku, AKARI; Hinode
First stage – M-14
Powered by	1 solid
Maximum thrust	3,780.345 kN (849,855 lbf)
Specific impulse	246 s (2.41 km/s)
Burn time	46 seconds
Propellant	Solid
Second stage – M-24
Powered by	1 solid
Maximum thrust	1,245.287 kN (279,952 lbf)
Specific impulse	203 s (1.99 km/s)
Burn time	71 seconds
Propellant	Solid
Third stage – M-34
Powered by	1 solid
Maximum thrust	294 kN (66,000 lbf)
Specific impulse	301 s (2.95 km/s)
Burn time	102 seconds
Propellant	Solid
Fourth stage (M-V KM) – KM-V1
Powered by	1 solid
Maximum thrust	51.9 kN (11,700 lbf)
Specific impulse	298 s (2.92 km/s)
Burn time	73 seconds
Propellant	Solid
	[edit on Wikidata]

The M-V rocket, also called M-5 or Mu-5, was a Japanese solid-fuel rocket designed to launch scientific satellites. It was a member of the Mu family of rockets. The Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) began developing the M-V in 1990 at a cost of 15 billion yen. It has three stages and is 30.7 m (101 ft) high, 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) in diameter, and weighs about 140,000 kg (310,000 lb). It was capable of launching a satellite weighing 1,800 kg (4,000 lb) into an orbit as high as 250 km (160 mi).

The first M-V rocket launched the HALCA radio astronomy satellite in 1997, and the second the Nozomi Mars explorer in July 1998. The third rocket attempted to launch the Astro-E X-ray satellite on 10 February 2000 but failed. ISAS recovered from this setback and launched Hayabusa to 25143 Itokawa in 2003. The following M-V launch was the scientific Astro-E2 satellite, a replacement for Astro-E, which took place on 10 July 2005. The final launch was that of the Hinode (SOLAR-B) spacecraft, along with the SSSat microsat and a nanosatellite, HIT-SAT, on 22 September 2006.

Launch outcomes

0.5

1

1.5

2

1997

'98

'99

2000

'01

'02

'03

'04

'05

'06

Failure
Success

Launch history

Flight No.	Date and time, UTC	Rocket, configuration	Launch site	Payload	Launch outcome
M-V-1	12 February 1997 04:50:00	M-V	Uchinoura M-V	MUSES-B (HALCA)^[3]	Success
M-V-1
M-V-3	3 July 1998 18:12:00	M-V	Uchinoura M-V	PLANET-B (Nozomi)	Success
M-V-3
M-V-4	10 February 2000 01:30:00	M-V	Uchinoura M-V	ASTRO-E	Failure
M-V-4	Failure of 1st stage engine nozzle caused control system breakdown and under performance.^[4]^[5] Later stages could not compensate for under performance leaving payload in 250 miles (400 km) x 50 miles (80 km) orbit and subsequent reentry.^[6]
M-V-5	9 May 2003 04:29:25	M-V	Uchinoura M-V	MUSES-C (Hayabusa)	Success
M-V-5
M-V-6	10 July 2005 03:30:00	M-V	Uchinoura M-V	ASTRO-E2 (Suzaku)	Success
M-V-6
M-V-8	21 February 2006 21:28:00	M-V	Uchinoura M-V	ASTRO-F (Akari) CUTE-1.7 + APD SSP (solar sail sub payload)	Success
M-V-8	SSP failed to open completely
M-V-7	22 September 2006 21:36	M-V	Uchinoura M-V	SOLAR-B (Hinode) HIT-SAT SSSat (solar sail)	Success
M-V-7	SSSat failed after launch

Following program

A follow on to the M-V, called the Epsilon Rocket,^[7] features a lower 1.2 tonne LEO payload capability. The development aim is to reduce costs, primarily by using the H-IIA solid rocket booster as the first stage and through shorter launch preparation time. Epsilon launches are intended to cost much less than the US$70 million launch cost of a M-V.^[8]

The first launch, of a small scientific satellite SPRINT-A (Hisaki), took place in September 2013. The initial launches will be of a two-stage version,^{[citation needed]} of Epsilon, with up to a 500 kilogram LEO payload capability.^[9]

Potential as an intercontinental ballistic missile

Solid fuel rockets are the design of choice for military applications as they can remain in storage for long periods, and then reliably launch at short notice.

Lawmakers made national security arguments for keeping Japan's solid-fuel rocket technology alive after ISAS was merged into JAXA, which also has the H-IIA liquid-fuelled rocket, in 2003. The ISAS director of external affairs, Yasunori Matogawa, said, "It seems the hard-line national security proponents in parliament are increasing their influence, and they aren't getting much criticism... I think we’re moving into a very dangerous period. When you consider the current environment and the threat from North Korea, it's scary".^[10]

Toshiyuki Shikata, a Tokyo Metropolitan Government adviser and former lieutenant general, claimed that part of the rationale for the fifth M-V Hayabusa mission was that the reentry and landing of its return capsule demonstrated "that Japan's ballistic missile capability is credible".^[11]

At a technical level the M-V design could be weaponised quickly (as an Intercontinental ballistic missile, since only payload and guidance have to be changed) although this would be politically unlikely.^[12] The M-V is comparable in performance to the LGM-118 Peacekeeper ICBM.

Comparable solid fuel rockets

References

^ Travis S. Taylor (2009). Introduction to Rocket Science and Engineering. CRC Press. p. 25. ISBN 978-1-4200-7529-8.
^ "Projects&Products". IHI AEROSPACE. Archived from the original on 6 April 2011. Retrieved 8 March 2011.
^ Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency | JAXA. "HALCA > Launch Vehicle". Institute of Space and Astronautical Science. Archived from the original on 2 July 2005.
^ "History ｜ ISAS". History. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
^ "1 How did M-V-4 fly?". www.isas.jaxa.jp. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
^ Ray, Justin (10 February 2000). "Spaceflight Now | Breaking News | Astro-E believed lost following botched launch". spaceflightnow.com. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
^ "Epsilon launch vehicle". JAXA. Archived from the original on 21 January 2013. Retrieved 1 April 2010.
^ "Asteroid probe, rocket get nod from Japanese panel". Spaceflight Now. 11 August 2010. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
^ "Interview: Yasuhiro Morita, Project Manager, Epsilon Launch Vehicle". JAXA. Archived from the original on 23 November 2012. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
^ Karl Schoenberger (11 July 2003). "Japan ponders nuclear weapons". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on 25 June 2004.
^ Chester Dawson (28 October 2011). "In Japan, Provocative Case for Staying Nuclear". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
^ William E. Rapp (January 2004). Paths Diverging? The Next Decade in the US-Japan Security Alliance (PDF) (Report). Strategic Studies Institute, U.S. Army War College. p. 82. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 June 2006. Retrieved 29 October 2012. 119. Japan has the weapons grade plutonium, technology for weaponization, and delivery means in the M-V-5 rocket, indigenous, solid fueled, 1800 kg payload capacity, to go nuclear very rapidly should it choose. This dramatic step, however, would require a complete loss of faith in the American nuclear umbrella

External links

M-V page in ISAS site of JAXA Archived 21 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine
Epsilon Launch Vehicle at JAXA
M-V, Encyclopedia Astronautica

[1] Travis S. Taylor (2009). Introduction to Rocket Science and Engineering. CRC Press. p. 25. ISBN 978-1-4200-7529-8.

[IHIAERO-2] "Projects&Products". IHI AEROSPACE. Archived from the original on 6 April 2011. Retrieved 8 March 2011.

[3] Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency | JAXA. "HALCA > Launch Vehicle". Institute of Space and Astronautical Science. Archived from the original on 2 July 2005.

[4] "History ｜ ISAS". History. Retrieved 2 January 2024.

[5] "1 How did M-V-4 fly?". www.isas.jaxa.jp. Retrieved 2 January 2024.

[6] Ray, Justin (10 February 2000). "Spaceflight Now | Breaking News | Astro-E believed lost following botched launch". spaceflightnow.com. Retrieved 2 January 2024.

[7] "Epsilon launch vehicle". JAXA. Archived from the original on 21 January 2013. Retrieved 1 April 2010.

[sfn-20100811-8] "Asteroid probe, rocket get nod from Japanese panel". Spaceflight Now. 11 August 2010. Retrieved 29 October 2012.

[JAXA-interview-9] "Interview: Yasuhiro Morita, Project Manager, Epsilon Launch Vehicle". JAXA. Archived from the original on 23 November 2012. Retrieved 29 October 2012.

[10] Karl Schoenberger (11 July 2003). "Japan ponders nuclear weapons". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on 25 June 2004.

[11] Chester Dawson (28 October 2011). "In Japan, Provocative Case for Staying Nuclear". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 13 November 2011.

[12] William E. Rapp (January 2004). Paths Diverging? The Next Decade in the US-Japan Security Alliance (PDF) (Report). Strategic Studies Institute, U.S. Army War College. p. 82. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 June 2006. Retrieved 29 October 2012. 119. Japan has the weapons grade plutonium, technology for weaponization, and delivery means in the M-V-5 rocket, indigenous, solid fueled, 1800 kg payload capacity, to go nuclear very rapidly should it choose. This dramatic step, however, would require a complete loss of faith in the American nuclear umbrella

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v t e Orbital launch systems
List of orbital launch systems Comparison of orbital launch systems
Current	Angara 1.2 A5 Ariane 6 Atlas V Ceres 1 1S Chollima-1 Electron Falcon 9 Block 5 Falcon Heavy Firefly Alpha Gravity-1 GSLV H-IIA H3 Hyperbola-1 Jielong 1 3 KAIROS^† Kaituozhe 2 Kinetica 1 Kuaizhou 1 1A 11 Long March 2C 2D 2F 3A 3B/E 3C 4B 4C 5 5B 6 6A 7 7A 8 11 11H LVM3 Minotaur I IV V C Nuri OS-M1^† Pegasus XL Proton-M PSLV Qaem 100 Qased RS1^† Shavit 2 Simorgh SLS Block 1 Soyuz-2 2.1a / STA 2.1b / STB 2-1v SSLV Starship Tianlong-2 Unha Vega C Vulcan Centaur Zhuque 2
In development	Antares 330 Bloostar Cyclone-4M Deca Epsilon S Eris Gravity-2 Hyperbola-2 Irtysh Kuaizhou 21 31 Long March 9 10 12 Miura 5 MLV Neutron New Glenn New Line 1 NGLV Nova OS-M 2 4 Orbex Prime Pallas-1 Red Dwarf SLS Block 1B Block 2 Soyuz-7 Terran R Tianlong-3 VLM Vega E Zero Zhuque 3 Zuljanah
Retired	Antares 110 120 130^† 230 230+ Ariane 1 2 3 4 5 ASLV Athena I II Atlas B D E/F G H I II III LV-3B SLV-3 Able^† Agena Centaur Black Arrow Conestoga^† Delta A B C D E G J L M N 0100 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 II III IV IV Heavy Diamant Dnepr Energia Epsilon Europa I^† II^† Falcon 1 Falcon 9 v1.0 v1.1 v1.2 "Full Thrust" Feng Bao 1 GSLV Mk I H-I H-II H-IIB Juno I Juno II Kaituozhe-1 Kosmos original 1 2/2I 3 3M Lambda 4S LauncherOne Long March 1 1D^† 2A 2E 3 3B 4A Mu 4S 3C 3H 3S 3SII V N1^† N-I N-II Naro-1 Paektusan^† Pilot-2^† R-7 Luna Molniya M L Polyot Soyuz original FG L M U U2 Soyuz/Vostok Sputnik Voskhod Vostok L K 2 2M R-29 Shtil' Volna^† Rocket 3 Safir 1 1A 1B Saturn I IB V Scout X-1 Blue Scout II^† X-2^† X-2M X-3 X-3M X-4 X-2B^† B A B-1 D-1 A-1 E-1 F-1 G-1 Shavit original 1 SLV Space Shuttle SPARK^† Sparta SS-520 Start-1 Terran 1^† Thor Able Ablestar 1 2 Agena A B D Burner 1 2 Delta DSV-2U Thorad-Agena SLV-2G SLV-2H Titan II GLV IIIA IIIB IIIC IIID IIIE 34D 23G CT-3 IV Tsyklon R-36-O original 2 3 Universal Rocket UR-500 Proton Proton-K Rokot Strela Vanguard Vega original VLS-1^† Zenit 2 2M 2FG 3SL 3SLB 3F Zhuque 1^†
Classes	Sounding rocket Small-lift launch vehicle Medium-lift launch vehicle Heavy-lift launch vehicle Super heavy-lift launch vehicle
This Template lists historical, current, and future space rockets that at least once attempted (but not necessarily succeeded in) an orbital launch or that are planned to attempt such a launch in the future Symbol ^† indicates past or current rockets that attempted orbital launches but never succeeded (never did or has yet to perform a successful orbital launch)

M-V