![]() The N-I rocket[1] | |
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)[1] |
Diameter | 2.44 metres (8.0 ft) |
Mass | 131,330 kilograms (289,530 lb)[1] |
Stages | 2 or 3 |
Capacity | |
Payload to LEO | |
Mass | 1,200 kilograms (2,600 lb)[1] |
Payload to GTO | |
Mass | 360 kilograms (790 lb)[1] |
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[2] |
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 |
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,[3][4][5] and three Castor SRMs.[2][6] 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.
On 29 February 1976, the second N-I conducted the only orbital launch, as of 17 February 2024, to occur on a leap day.[7]
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