Mu (rocket family)

The Mu, also known as M, was a series of Japanese solid-fueled carrier rockets, which were launched from Uchinoura between 1966 and 2006. Originally developed by Japan's Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Mu rockets were later operated by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency following ISAS becoming part of it.[1]

M-V-4.
M-V-6.

Early Japanese carrier rockets

The first Mu rocket, the Mu-1 made a single, sub-orbital, test flight, on 31 October 1966. Subsequently, a series of rockets were produced, designated Mu-3 and Mu-4. In 1969 a suborbital test launch of the Mu-3D was conducted.[2] The first orbital launch attempt for the Mu family, using a Mu-4S, was conducted on 25 September 1970, however the fourth stage did not ignite, and the rocket failed to reach orbit. On 16 February 1971, Tansei 1 was launched by another Mu-4S rocket. Two further Mu-4S launches took place during 1971 and 1972. The Mu-4S was replaced by the Mu-3C, was launched four times between 1974 and 1979, with three successes and one failure, and the Mu-3H, which was launched three times in 1977 and 1978. The Mu-3S was used between 1980 and 1984, making four launches. The final member of the Mu-3 family was the Mu-3SII, which was launched eight times between 1985 and 1995. The Mu-3 was replaced in service by the M-V.

The Mu family of rockets.

M-V

The M-V, or Mu-5, was introduced in 1997 and retired in 2006. Seven launches, six of which were successful, were conducted. Typically, the M-V flew in a three-stage configuration, however a four-stage configuration, designated M-V KM was used 3 times, with the MUSES-B (HALCA) satellite in 1997, Nozomi (PLANET-B) spacecraft in 1998, and the Hayabusa (MUSES-C) spacecraft in 2003. The three-stage configuration had a maximum payload of 1,800 kg (4,000 lb) for an orbit with altitude of 200 km (120 mi) and inclination of 30°, and 1,300 kg (2,900 lb) to a polar orbit (90° inclination), with an altitude of 200 km (120 mi). The M-V KM could launch 1,800 kg (4,000 lb) to an orbit with 30° inclination and 400 km (250 mi) altitude.

The three stage M-V had a total launch mass of 137,500 kg (303,100 lb), whilst the total mass of a four-stage M-V KM was 139,000 kg (306,000 lb).

List of launches

All launches are from the Mu Launch Pad at the Uchinoura Space Center.

Flight number Date (UTC) Payload Orbit Result Remarks
M-4S-1 September 25, 1970
05:00
MS-F1 LEO (planned) Failure
M-4S-2 February 16, 1971
04:00
MS-T1 (Tansei 1) LEO Success
M-4S-3 September 28, 1971
04:00
MS-F2 (Shinsei) LEO Success
M-4S-4 August 19, 1972
02:40
REXS (Denpa) MEO Success
M-3C-1 February 16, 1974
05:00
MS-T2 (Tansei 2) MEO Success
M-3C-2 February 24, 1975
05:25
SRATS (Taiyo) MEO Success
M-3C-3 February 4, 1976
05:00
CORSA LEO (planned) Failure
M-3H-1 February 19, 1977
05:15
MS-T3 (Tansei 3) MEO Success
M-3H-2 February 4, 1978
07:00
EXOS-A (Kyokko) MEO Success
M-3H-3 September 16, 1978
05:00
EXOS-B (Jikiken) HEO Success
M-3C-4 February 21, 1979
05:00
CORSA-b (Hakucho) LEO Success
M-3S-1 February 17, 1980
00:40
MS-T4 (Tansei 4) LEO Success
M-3S-2 February 21, 1981
00:30
ASTRO-A (Hinotori) LEO Success
M-3S-3 February 20, 1983
05:10
ASTRO-B (Tenma) LEO Success
M-3S-4 February 14, 1984
08:00
EXOS-C (Ohzora) LEO Success
M-3SII-1 January 7, 1985
19:26
MS-T5 (Sakigake) HTO Success
M-3SII-2 August 18, 1985
23:33
PLANET-A (Suisei) HTO Success
M-3SII-3 February 5, 1987
06:30
ASTRO-C (Ginga) LEO Success
M-3SII-4 February 21, 1989
23:30
EXOS-D (Akebono) MEO Success
M-3SII-5 January 24, 1990
11:46
MUSES-A (Hiten) LTO Success
M-3SII-6 August 30, 1991
02:30
SOLAR-A (Yohkoh) LEO Success
M-3SII-7 February 20, 1993
02:20
ASTRO-D/ASCA (Asuka) LEO Success
M-3SII-8 January 15, 1995
13:45
EXPRESS LEO Partial failure
M-V-1 February 12, 1997
04:50
MUSES-B/HALCA (Haruka) HEO Success
M-V-3 July 3, 1998
18:12
PLANET-B (Nozomi) HTO Success
M-V-4 February 10, 2000
01:30
ASTRO-E LEO (planned) Failure
M-V-5 May 9, 2003
04:29
MUSES-C (Hayabusa) HTO Success
M-V-6 July 10, 2005
03:30
ASTRO-EII (Suzaku) LEO Success
M-V-8 February 21, 2006
21:28
ASTRO-F (Akari) LEO Success
M-V-7 September 22, 2006
21:36
SOLAR-B (Hinode) LEO Success

^Note Two sub-orbital launches of the Mu family were performed prior to its first orbital flight: the 1.5 stage Mu-1 flew on October 31, 1966, at 05:04 UTC and the 3.5 stage Mu-3D flew on August 17, 1969, at 06:00 UTC.

See also

References

  1. Pekkanen, Saadia; Kallender-Umezu, Paul (2010). In Defense of Japan: From the Market to the Military in Space Policy. Stanford University Press. ISBN 9780804775007.
  2. "Mu-3D". astronautix.com. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
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