N-I (rocket)
The N-I or N-1 was a derivative of the American Thor-Delta rocket, produced under license in Japan. The N stood for "Nippon" (Japan). It used a Long Tank Thor first stage, a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries-designed LE-3 engine on the second stage, and three Castor SRMs. Seven were launched between 1975 and 1982, before it was replaced by the N-II. Six of the seven launches were successful, however on the fifth flight, there was recontact between the satellite and the third stage, which caused the satellite to fail.
The N-I rocket | |
| Function | Carrier rocket |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | McDonnell Douglas (design) Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (production) |
| Country of origin | United States (design) Japan (production) |
| Size | |
| Height | 34 metres (112 ft) |
| Diameter | 2.44 metres (8.0 ft) |
| Mass | 131,330 kilograms (289,530 lb) |
| Stages | 2 or 3 |
| Capacity | |
| Payload to LEO | |
| Mass | 1,200 kilograms (2,600 lb) |
| Payload to GTO | |
| Mass | 360 kilograms (790 lb) |
| Associated rockets | |
| Family | Delta |
| Launch history | |
| Status | Retired |
| Launch sites | LA-N, Tanegashima |
| Total launches | 7 |
| Success(es) | 6 |
| Partial failure(s) | 1 |
| First flight | 9 September 1975 |
| Last flight | 3 September 1982 |
| Boosters – Castor 2 | |
| No. boosters | 3 |
| Powered by | 1 TX-354-3 |
| Maximum thrust | 258.9 kilonewtons (58,200 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | 262 sec |
| Burn time | 37 seconds |
| Propellant | Solid |
| First stage – Thor-ELT | |
| Powered by | 1 MB-3-3 |
| Maximum thrust | 866.7 kilonewtons (194,800 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | 290 sec |
| Burn time | 270 seconds |
| Propellant | RP-1/LOX |
| Second stage | |
| Powered by | 1 LE-3 |
| Maximum thrust | 52.9 kilonewtons (11,900 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | 290 sec |
| Burn time | 246 seconds |
| Propellant | NTO/A-50 |
| Third stage (optional) – Star-37N | |
| Powered by | 1 solid |
| Maximum thrust | 45 kilonewtons (10,000 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | 290 sec |
| Burn time | 42 seconds |
| Propellant | Solid |
On 29 February 1976, the second N-I conducted the only orbital launch to occur on a leap day.
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