H-IIA Launch Vehicle

photo by JAXA

The H-IIA Launch Vehicle is developed to suit a wide variation of usages such as to launch a satellite, of domestic and foreign customers, to transfer goods to the International Space Station, to launch a lunar and planetary exploration surveyor (SELENE project), so the various experiences of the development of the H-II Launch Vehicle are being put to use. MHI had participated the development of H-IIA as the system integrator and has been assigned as the prime contractor for the launch services using H-IIA since 2002 in accordance with the policy of Japanese Government to privatize H-IIA launch services.
This rocket has a standard type and an heavy lift type with larger type with liquid propellant, and has the capacity to put a 4 to 8 ton class artificial satellite into the geostationary transfer orbit.