M-V

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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 meters high, 2.5 meters in diameter, and weighs about 140 tonnes (310,000 pounds). It was capable of launching a satellite weighing 1.8 tonnes (2 short tons) into an orbit as high as 250 km (155 miles).

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 February 10, 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 July 10, 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.

Contents 1 National security 2 M-V flights 3 References 4 External links

[edit] National security

There were concerns^{[citation needed]} that the development of this three-stage solid fuel rocket, unusual for space exploration, was motivated by military concerns despite Japan’s non-nuclear policy. 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 a moments notice.

Lawmakers made national security arguments for keeping Japan's solid-fuel rocket technology alive after ISAS was merged into the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, 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." ^[1]

There are reports^{[citation needed]} that the M-V design was modeled after the LG-118A Peacekeeper ICBM which has similar dimensions and payload, and is also a three-stage solid fuel rocket. The M-V design could be weaponised quickly^{[citation needed]} although this would be politically difficult^[2].

[edit] M-V flights

Date (UTC)	Flight	Payload	Result
February 12, 1997 04:50:00	M-V-1	Muses B (HALCA)	Success
July 3, 1998 18:12:00	M-V-3	Planet B (Nozomi)	Success
February 10, 2000 01:30:00	M-V-4	ASTRO-E	Failure
May 9, 2003 04:29:25	M-V-5	Muses C (Hayabusa)	Success
July 10, 2005 03:30:00	M-V-6	ASTRO-E2 (Suzaku)	Success
February 21, 2006 21:28:00	M-V-8	ASTRO-F (Akari) CUTE-1.7-APD SSP (solar sail sub payload)	Success
September 22, 2006 21:36	M-V-7	Solar-B (Hinode) HIT-SAT SSSAT(solar sail)	Success SSSat failed after launch

[edit] References

1. ^ Karl Schoenberger. "Japan ponders nuclear weapons", Detroit Free Press, July 11, 2003.
2. ^ William E. Rapp (January 2004). "Paths Diverging? The Next Decade in the US-Japan Security Alliance". Strategic Studies Institute, U.S. Army War College.

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: M-V (rocket)

• M-V page in ISAS site of JAXA
• M-V, Encyclopedia Astronautica