New Japanese Rocket Lofts Two Satellites

A new Japanese rocket carried two satellites into orbit today on its first flight test, improving the nation’s launch capability at a time when the American and European space programs are having trouble.

The National Space Development Agency said the H-1 rocket blasted off at 5:45 a.m. from the national space center in southern Japan, 14 minutes behind schedule, and released a satellite for use by amateur radio stations and another for geodetic surveys.

The key to the rocket is the new 10.5-ton thrust LE-5 engine in its second stage. The engine burns super cold liquid hydrogen with liquid oxygen. It is the most potent rocket combination in use and burns the same propellants used by America’s space shuttle main engines.

Yataro Mitsubayashi, director-general of the Science and Technology Agency, hailed the success of the first domestically designed liquid fuel engine as “a major step forward toward Japan’s space development in the future.”

The failure of the American space shuttle Challenger last January and the subsequent failure of American Titan and Delta rockets and a French Ariane rocket have had a serious effect on companies with satellites to be launched.