Lambda (rocket family)

Lambda 4S (replica) and the launcher as exhibited at National Museum of Nature and Science.

Lambda is the name of a series of Japanese carrier rockets.[1][2] It consisted of the types Lambda 2,[3][2] LSC-3,[4] Lambda 3,[5][2] Lambda 3H,[2][6] Lambda 4S,[2][7][8] Lambda 4SC,[2][9] and Lambda 4T[2][10] developed jointly by Institute of Industrial Science of the University of Tokyo, Institute of Space and Astronautical Science of the University of Tokyo, and Prince Motor Company, which merged with Nissan in 1966.[11]

Lambda series rockets did not have guidance systems, as they had the potential to be converted for offensive military use, thus interpreted as a violation of Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution. However, future Japanese launch vehicles, such as the H-II, were allowed to have guidance systems.[12]

Configurations

Lambda types differ regarding the upper stages used. The following table shows the actual configurations:[2]

Type Boosters Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4
Lambda 2 - L-735 K-420 - -
Lambda 3 - L-735 K-420 Kappa-8 -
Lambda 3H - L-735 L-735(1/3) L-500 -
Lambda 4S 2 × SB-310 L-735 L-735(1/3) L-500 L-480S
Lambda 4SC 2 × SB-310 L-735 L-735(1/3) L-500 L-480S
Lambda 4T 2 × SB-310 L-735 L-735(1/3) L-500 L-480S

Launches

Lambda rockets were launched by ISAS, from Kagoshima pad L.[1][2]

On February 11, 1970, the first Japanese satellite Ohsumi was launched using a Lambda 4S rocket.

The Lambda 4S was launched nine times, though five were failures.[13][8] The first launch of the Lambda 4S rocket took place on September 26, 1966, from Kagoshima.[14] A fourth-stage attitude control failed resulting in loss of the vehicle and payload.

List of Lambda launches
Date Version Apogee (km) Mission
1963 August 24 Lambda 2 51 Failure
1963 December 11 Lambda 2 410 Ionosphere mission
1964 July 11 Lambda 3 857 Ionosphere mission
1965 January 31 Lambda 3 1040 Ionosphere mission
1965 March 18 Lambda 3 1085 X-ray astronomy mission
1966 March 5 Lambda 3H 1829 X-ray astronomy mission
1966 July 23 Lambda 3H 1800 Gyro-plasma probe Ionosphere / aeronomy mission
1966 September 26 Lambda 4S 400 Ohsumi launch attempt. Failure: Fourth stage attitude control failed
1966 December 20 Lambda 4S 400 Ohsumi launch attempt. Failure: Fourth stage failed to ignite
1967 February 6 Lambda 3H 2150 Ionosphere / chemical release / x-ray astronomy mission
1967 April 13 Lambda 4S 200 Ohsumi launch attempt. Failure: Fourth stage failed to ignite
1969 January 16 Lambda 3H 1800 Ionosphere mission
1969 September 3 Lambda 4T 400 Test mission
1969 September 22 Lambda 4S 400 Ohsumi launch attempt. Failure: Fourth stage control system malfunction after third stage collided with fourth stage
1970 January 21 Lambda 3H 1848 Ionosphere / plasma mission
1970 February 11 Lambda 4S 2440 Ohsumi (first successful satellite of Japan, fifth attempt of Lambda 4S)
1970 September 19 Lambda 3H 2017 X-ray / ultraviolet astronomy mission
1971 August 20 Lambda 4SC 1500 Failure
1971 September 3 Lambda 3H 1718 Aeronomy / ionosphere / x-ray astronomy mission
1973 January 28 Lambda 4SC 1500 TVC test
1974 January 22 Lambda 3H 1571 St 2: 329 km X-ray astronomy mission
1974 September 1 Lambda 4SC 1500 TVC test
1976 August 30 Lambda 4SC 1500 Radar transponder
1977 August 16 Lambda 3H 1294 Aeronomy / ionosphere / plasma mission
1979 September 20 Lambda 4SC 82 TVC test

References

  1. ^ a b "Lambda". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Krebs, Gunter D (2024). "L class". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
  3. ^ "Lambda 2". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  4. ^ "LSC-3". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  5. ^ "Lambda 3". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  6. ^ "Lambda 3H". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
  7. ^ "Lambda 4S". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
  8. ^ a b "L-4S". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
  9. ^ "Lambda 4SC". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
  10. ^ "Lambda 4T". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
  11. ^ "A short history of the Prince Motor Co., Ltd". Nissan. Retrieved 2020-08-31.
  12. ^ "H-II Launch Vehicle". JAXA. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  13. ^ "Lambda 4". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  14. ^ "Lambda 4S". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2023-10-09.


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