Japanese H-IIB Booster Suffers Fire on Launch Pad
The rocket remains intact, but the H-IIB rocket will not launch the HTV cargo ship to the International Space Station today.
This is a developing story. I will update as JAXA releases more information.
8 responses to “Japanese H-IIB Booster Suffers Fire on Launch Pad”
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Over the years, ISS has certainly had its share of issues with its resupply vessels. Good thing there is a wide variety of vehicles.
This is why we need at least 3 different manned and cargo launchers.
Bugs me to no end that Europe quit taking cargo up there.
Regardless, this is why we need to add a habitat to the ISS and increase crew size to say 14 or so, instead of 7. This will allow for more cargo/manned launches, which makes it possible to sustain 3-5 different launch systems.
Right now we have four: Progress, HTV, Cygnus, and Cargo Dragon
Soon we’ll have five: Progress, HTV, Cygnus, Cargo Dragon 2, and Dreamchaser.
The problem with the cargo launchers is that only Russia’s and Europe’s ATV use Russia’s docking AND is capable of boosting ISS. As such, ATV was the true backup to progress. Lose progress and we lose boost.
Yes, zvelda is there, but it has not fired since the 00s.
Now, we need 3+ manned launchers, again for redundancy. We will likely have 2 this year ( very likely that one of Boeing or spacex will carry first crew this year ), followed by 3 early next year. Thankfully, SNC wants into space program, and NASA wants them there. So DC will join that as a 4th manned launcher.
But we need a minimum number of launches on each to ensure profitability, but more importantly, decent quality control.
That is why we need to expand ISS with habitat and get other nations/businesses/tourists using this.
Growing number of ppl/groups that can access space is how we lower costs and increase safety. We are getting there, but just missing it. Hopefully, trump, if not new space, will spend the money and increase ISS crew size.
Actually Cygnus can boost the orbit of ISS. Cite:
https://www.space.com/41172…
I would think you could also use a Cygnus to desaturate the ISS control moment gyros. But, you might need some additional programming and/or direct communications connections between the ISS computers and the Cygnus (i.e. engineering details).
But, following the end of the shuttle program, ISS has relied almost exclusively on the Russian side of ISS for reboosts and CMG desaturation.
What none of the US vehicles (cargo or crewed) can do is refuel Zvezda (which can do reboosts and CMG desaturation when there is no vehicle on its aft axial port). Only Progress can do that (ESA stopped producing ATVs a few years ago).
oh. wow. I missed that.
PERFECT.
We now have the ability to backup progress( for the important stuff; boost and cargo).
And I would not trust Zvezda to do a boost. It has been over 10 years since it fired up.
Never saw quite that situation before
With Japan.
But plenty of happened with Russia, America, Europe, etc.