Abstract
The first Epsilon launch vehicle was successfully launched from Uchinoura Space Center (USC) on September 14th, 2013. Epsilon has achieved full mission success by injecting SPRINT-A into planned orbit with high accuracy. Epsilon is now ready to offer launch opportunities for small payloads to the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO). The paper consists of three parts. At first, this paper describes the main features of Epsilon launch vehicle, its mission profile and the brief summary of actual flight data. Secondly, the short-term development plan is presented, as Epsilon has to become more cost effective in order to meet the growing needs for lower cost. Finally a further development plan including design evolutions under study is presented.
Poster
Epsilon Launch Vehicle - First Flight and its Evolutions -
The first Epsilon launch vehicle was successfully launched from Uchinoura Space Center (USC) on September 14th, 2013. Epsilon has achieved full mission success by injecting SPRINT-A into planned orbit with high accuracy. Epsilon is now ready to offer launch opportunities for small payloads to the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO). The paper consists of three parts. At first, this paper describes the main features of Epsilon launch vehicle, its mission profile and the brief summary of actual flight data. Secondly, the short-term development plan is presented, as Epsilon has to become more cost effective in order to meet the growing needs for lower cost. Finally a further development plan including design evolutions under study is presented.
