BY SPACEFLIGHT NOW

Follow the preparations and launch of the second test flight of Japan's H-2A rocket. Reload this page for the very latest on the mission.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2002

Human error during the designing of an experimental satellite caused its failure to separate from Japan's H-2A rocket following launch earlier this month, a Japanese newspaper reported over the weekend.

A wiring mistake on the Demonstrator of Atmospheric Reentry System with Hyper Velocity (DASH) reentry experiment has been uncovered by investigators, the Daily Yomiuri newspaper said Saturday.

The finding clears the H-2A rocket of blame in the mishap, which completed its second and final test flight successfully, officials said. The launcher is due to begin operational flights in August.

DASH was supposed to dive back into the Earth's atmosphere three days after the February 3 launch to record data on the environment of the fiery re-entry. These measurements and new technologies that were to be demonstrated aboard DASH were to be put into the design of future missions to other planets in the solar system.

The failed deployment of DASH was caused by an incorrectly wired connector that was supposed to transmit the signal to release the craft from the rocket, the paper said.

The error was traced to the time DASH was designed, when the satellite's manufacturer, NEC, made a copying mistake when drawing up final assembly blueprints based on preliminary drawings, a space program spokesman told the paper.

The wiring snafu went undetected during pre-launch testing because the checks were conducted based upon the faulty blueprints, officials said. A test of the separation command was performed without actually sending a signal through the connector in question.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2002

Japanese space officials acknowledged Monday that contact had been lost with a reentry demonstration satellite launched by the H-2A rocket and there was no confirmation that the craft even separated from its ride to space.

Ground controllers say they lost communications with the Demonstrator of Atmospheric Reentry System with Hyper Velocity (DASH) payload and were unable to verify its deployment from the upper stage of the H-2A rocket, which was expected about 30 minutes after liftoff.

The satellite was to fly on its own for three days before performing a deorbit thruster firing to brake from orbit. A descent capsule would then separate from the craft's main structure for the fiery plunge into the atmosphere as a test of reentry technology. Scientists were interested in the knowledge gained from DASH for designing future spacecraft, such as entry probes to explore other planets.

Even if communications with the craft are restored, the mission of DASH is doomed if the satellite failed to separate from the payload deck of the H-2A rocket.

It has been confirmed that the mission's primary payload -- the MDS-1 demonstration satellite -- separated properly. Engineers also say that the rocket performed as expected throughout the flight to orbit.

The Japanese space agency NASDA continues to call Sunday night's launch a success, which could indicate that the H-2A may still be declared ready for its first fully operational flight in August. A total of 11 H-2A rockets are currently on the books for launches over the three years.

This second flight of the H-2A was the first to include a full separation system. The first launch carried a dummy satellite that stayed attached to the upper stage.

Sunday's launch was also the first H-2A to feature a dual payload adapter, with both an upper and lower tier inside the two-level payload fairing. DASH was attached to the upper adapter, which was jettisoned about 41 minutes after launch to expose MDS-1 for its separation five minutes later.

So the DASH payload is circling Earth in a highly elliptical geosynchronous transfer orbit, still mounted to the payload adapter.

1400 GMT (9:00 a.m. EST)

Despite the initial celebration following the launch of the H-2A rocket, Japanese space officials reported several hours after the flight that one of three payloads might not have been deployed.

Confirmation that the DASH payload was released from the rocket's second stage was never received by ground controllers. As we reported in real-time during the launch, an announcement that the reentry technology experiment had been jettisoned from the rocket was not made, unlike all the other events of the launch.

All indications from NASDA were that the launch was a complete success. But just an hour or so ago the space agency released a statement saying: "It has not been confirmed yet if the Demonstrator of Atmospheric Reentry System with Hyper Velocity (DASH) was separated. The separation of DASH was expected about 30 minutes after the liftoff."

News reports from Japan are now calling the launch a failure and that contact with DASH was lost before the separation time.

NASDA says the rocket fired as planned and other events occurred as expected, including the deployment of the MDS-1 satellite.

0400 GMT (11:00 p.m. EST Sun.)

Japan's H-2A rocket flew three demonstration payloads into orbit today, marking the second and final test flight for the new launcher that is planned to go into full service in August.

Liftoff occurred at 0245 GMT (9:45 p.m. EST Sunday) from the Yoshinobu launch complex at Tanegashima Space Center. The liftoff was delayed a day by high winds, and then by 17 minutes today to clear a boat from restricted danger zone offshore.

About 30 minutes after liftoff, the Demonstrator of Atmospheric Re-entry System with Hyper-Velocity, or DASH, payload was to be deployed into a highly elliptical geosynchronous transfer orbit.

The craft is supposed to complete several orbits before a deorbit burn is performed in three days. The mission's re-entry capsule will then separate from its orbital carrier for the fiery descent through Earth's atmosphere at a velocity of over 10 kilometers per second. The re-entry will culminate in a parachuted touchdown in the Sahara Desert in the African nation of Mauritania.

Measurements will be conducted during the re-entry, and the data will be transmitted to ground stations in the region during the parachuted phase of the descent. The results from the DASH experiment will go toward the design of missions in the future that may involve probes that enter the atmospheres of other planetary bodies.

The rocket's other main cargo -- the Mission Demonstration Satellite-1, or MDS-1 -- was released from the upper stage about 47 minutes after launch. It will operate for at least a year in the geosynchronous transfer orbit, checking out a variety of commercial components that have the potential of reducing the cost and risk of future satellites.

The parts to be tested include commercially-made semiconductors, a battery system that could prove to reduce weight on future spacecraft and a new data recording and storage system composed of commercial parts.

Also part of MDS-1 is an array of solar cells that were designed for use on the ground. These could lead to the development of cheaper and more efficient electricity-producing solar cells on missions in the coming years. A commercial computer system is another instrument slated to be demonstrated on the MDS-1 mission.

A suite of space environment sensors aboard MDS-1 serve to augment the technology demonstration mission of the craft.

The final cargo carried into space aboard the H-2A rocket was VEP-3, an instrumented package to gather information on the vibrations and environment inside the launcher's payload fairing during the ride to space. This is important to prove that the conditions during launch are acceptable for real satellites that will go into space aboard the rocket.

With a record of two successful launches, officials are planning to bring the standard H-2A rocket into full service in August, when the launcher will carry one of two satellites that will test data relay capabilities. Augmented versions of the H-2A are also planned, but are not expected fly for some time.

The H-2A debuted flew last August, which marked the first launch from Japan to reach orbit since July 1998 due to a series of failures of the H-2 and M-5 rockets.

Looking forward to the rest of 2002, the H-2A rocket is scheduled to fly two more times. In August, it will carry the first of two data relay test satellites that are similar to NASA's Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System used to relay communications between spacecraft in low Earth orbit and ground stations. In November, the H-2A is slated to haul the Adeos-2 Earth observation craft into orbit.

In the long term, the H-2A is expected to launch a variety of scientific and test satellites along with multiple flights of the H-2 Transfer Vehicle resupply ship for the international space station.

Japan hopes the H-2A will eventually compete to launch commercial communications satellites into space, joining the ranks of such rockets as Ariane, Atlas, Delta, Proton and Zenit.

0340 GMT (10:40 p.m. EST Sun.)

T+plus 55 minutes. Confirmation has been received that the MDS-1 spacecraft was deployed from the H-2A rocket.

We'll have a wrap-up story a bit later once NASDA declares success of this launch.

0332 GMT (10:32 p.m. EST Sun.)

T+plus 47 minutes. The MDS-1 satellite should have been deployed by this point. However, NASDA has not yet announced that event.

0326 GMT (10:26 p.m. EST Sun.)

T+plus 41 minutes. Confirmation has been received that the dual payload adapter and lower two pieces of the rocket's payload fairing have been jettisoned as scheduled. That exposes the MDS-1 satellite, which is set for deployment momentarily. But there still isn't clear confirmation of DASH being released.

0317 GMT (10:17 p.m. EST Sun.)

T+plus 32 minutes. Still awaiting confirmation that the DASH payload has been deployed.

0313 GMT (10:13 p.m. EST Sun.)

T+plus 28 minutes. The second stage engine has shut down as planned, completing the powered phase of launch to deliver the rocket's payloads into space.

The stage will be restarted in just over an hour to deplete onboard fuel reserves and safe the spent rocket body.

0311 GMT (10:11 p.m. EST Sun.)

T+plus 26 minutes. Engine continues to fire normally.

0310 GMT (10:10 p.m. EST Sun.)

T+plus 25 minutes. The second stage has restarted for an approximate three-minute firing to achieve a highly elliptical geosynchronous transfer orbit.

0305 GMT (10:05 p.m. EST Sun.)

T+plus 20 minutes. The H-2A rocket continues in the quiet coast phase of the launch -- in between firings of the second stage engine. Restart is upcoming in less than five minutes.

0258 GMT (9:58 p.m. EST Sun.)

T+plus 13 minutes. Confirmation has been received that the second stage engine has shut down as expected. The rocket is now in a coast period that will continue until about T+plus 24 minutes, 36 seconds when the second stage is reignited.

0256 GMT (9:56 p.m. EST Sun.)

T+plus 11 minutes. Second stage engine still burning. Attitude control and navigation systems are also working normally.

0254 GMT (9:54 p.m. EST Sun.)

T+plus 9 minutes. Officials report the second stage continues to fire as planned.

0252 GMT (9:52 p.m. EST Sun.)

T+plus 7 minutes, 30 seconds. The first stage engine has shut down as planned and the spent stage has separated. And the second stage engine has ignited.

0250 GMT (9:50 p.m. EST Sun.)

T+plus 5 minutes, 30 seconds. First stage still burning as planned. Attitude control and navigation systems also working normally.

0249 GMT (9:49 p.m. EST Sun.)

T+plus 4 minutes, 30 seconds. The rocket's nose cone, or payload fairing, has been jettisoned. No problems reported so far in this flight of the H-2A rocket.

0248 GMT (9:48 p.m. EST Sun.)

T+plus 3 minutes. The second pair of smaller solid rocket motors have burned out and separated.

0247 GMT (9:47 p.m. EST Sun.)

T+plus 2 minutes. The twin main solid-propellant strap-on solid rocket motors have burned out and separated. And the two smaller solid motors ignited 10 seconds into flight have also been used up and jettisoned.

The air-lit smaller solids are firing now along with the first stage main engine.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2002
0245 GMT (9:45 p.m. EST Sun.)

LIFTOFF! Liftoff of the second test flight of H-2A rocket -- paving the way to reliable access to space for Japan.

Here is a timeline of the events to occur during launch.

0243 GMT (9:43 p.m. EST Sun.)

T-minus 80 seconds. The sparklers have been fired on the base of the launch pad to burn off any residual hydrogen. Flares will be ignited beneath the main engine to burn away excess hydrogen in that area at T-minus 12 seconds. Also, the pad's water supression system has been activated.

0241 GMT (9:41 p.m. EST Sun.)

T-minus 4 minutes. Launch countdown sequencer now controlling.

0237 GMT (9:37 p.m. EST Sun.)

T-minus 8 minutes. A readiness check of the tracking stations at the launch site and downrange locations indicates all is "go" for launch.

0235 GMT (9:35 p.m. EST Sun.)

T-minus 10 minutes and counting.

0225 GMT (9:25 p.m. EST Sun.)

After the brief delay, the countdown is running to the reset 0245 GMT liftoff. All systems with the vehicle are "go" for launch. The weather is also favorable.

0205 GMT (9:05 p.m. EST Sun.)

NEW LAUNCH TIME! A boat in the restricted launch danger area downrange has forced officials to delay the launch by 17 minutes. Liftoff has been retargeted for 0245 GMT (9:45 p.m. EST).

0148 GMT (8:48 p.m. EST Sun.)

T-minus 40 minutes. The Terminal Countdown continues at the Tanegashima Space Center for launch of the H-2A rocket at 0228 GMT. Officials report the replenishment of the rocket's liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen supplies is underway to keep the tanks topped off at 100 percent full. The super-cold cryogenics naturally boil away and have to be replaced.

0128 GMT (8:28 p.m. EST Sun.)

T-minus 1 hour and counting.

0030 GMT (7:30 p.m. EST Sun.)

The countdown is entering the final two hours for the launch of the H-2A rocket. NASDA officials are not reporting any problems.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2002
2230 GMT (5:30 p.m. EST)

It is Monday morning and the sun has risen at the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan as the countdown continues smoothly for the launch of the second H-2A rocket.

Liftoff is still set to occur at 9:28 p.m. EST tonight (0228 GMT Monday).

2145 GMT (4:45 p.m. EST)

The liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen tanks within both the first and second stages of the H-2A rocket have now been filled to their 100 percent levels. However, the super-cold cryogenics naturally boil away. As such, the tanks will be topped off throughout the remainder of the countdown.

1920 GMT (2:20 p.m. EST)

Fueling of the two-stage H-2A rocket for launch is underway. Cryogenic liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen supplies are being pumped into the vehicle from ground storage tanks. Since fueling is a hazardous operation, the pad area is cleared of all workers.

Liftoff remains targeted for 9:28 p.m. EST tonight (0228 GMT Monday).

1800 GMT (1:00 p.m. EST)

Preparations to load the H-2A rocket with super-cold liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen are underway at the Tanegashima Space Center. Officials gave the "go" to begin readying for the fueling operations after verifying that all systems were in good working order and that the weather conditions were acceptable.

Over the past couple of hours the rocket was connected to the ground facilities at the launch pad follow following rollout.

1630 GMT (11:30 a.m. EST)

The H-2A rocket has been rolled from its assembly building to the pad at the Yoshinobu Launch Complex for tonight's rescheduled blastoff carrying three cargos on a demonstration test launch.

The 500-meter move of the rocket on its special mobile transporter began at about 9:05 a.m. EST (1405 GMT) and was completed 20 minutes later.

With the launcher on its seaside pad, work is underway connect the transporter table to the ground equipment. Fueling will then commence as the countdown enters the final hours.

The flight was pushed back 24 hours due to predicted high winds at the pad. Winds are not only a concern for liftoff but also during the rollout.

The weather forecast for launch time calls for just some patchy clouds and acceptable wind conditions.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2002
1615 GMT (11:15 a.m. EST)

SCRUB! The forecast of high winds at the time of tonight's launch of the H-2A rocket has prompted officials to postpone the liftoff by 24 hours. The launch has been rescheduled for a window of 9:28 to 10:47 p.m. EST Sunday night (0228 to 0347 GMT Monday).

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2002

The Japanese space agency has started the countdown to this weekend's critical test launch of its next-generation H-2A rocket that might one day launch commercial satellites into space.

Liftoff is expected to take place at 0232 GMT Sunday (9:32 p.m. EST Saturday) from Tanegashima, Japan. The launch window extends for 76 minutes.

A trio of technology research and data-gathering payloads will fly aboard this second flight of the H-2A launcher. The rocket sports a different look than the first, with four small solid-fueled strap-on boosters added and a payload fairing that is four meters taller.

The flight's primary payload is the Mission Demonstration Satellite-1 (MDS-1), which will examine the performances of commercial satellite components and other low-cost systems in space.

The 1,000-pound satellite will operate for at least one year in a highly elliptical geostationary transfer orbit, testing a host of technologies, including commercial semiconductors, ground-use solar cells and new battery systems in hopes of reducing costs and weight on future satellite missions.

Also aboard MDS-1 are a data recorder with commercially-made parts and a computer system that will be evaluated on-orbit. Further, the craft carries space environment sensors to help augment the demonstration mission.

The second payload inside the H-2A's nose cone is the Demonstrator of Atmospheric Re-entry System with Hyper-Velocity, or DASH. The spacecraft consists of an orbiter and a re-entry section that will demonstrate a high-speed re-entry of over 10 kilometers per second.

After being separated from the H-2A rocket, the craft will make a few loops around Earth in the highly elliptical orbit before performing a deorbital maneuver. The two sections of DASH will then separate, with the re-entry capsule collecting measurements during the fiery descent to the Sahara Desert in Mauritania.

Scientists are interested in the knowledge gained from DASH for designing future spacecraft, such as entry probes to explore other planets.

The third and final cargo aboard the H-2A is the Vehicle Evaluation Payload-3 (VEP-3). This package will gather data on the forces and the environment during launch to understand the conditions satellites will encounter while riding H-2A rockets to space.

This launch will mark the second flight of the H-2A after a successful mission last August. That debut of the H-2A was the first space flight launched from Japan to achieve orbit since July 1998 after a series of failures of the H-2 and M-5 rockets.

Stay with Spaceflight Now for updates during the countdown and launch of the H-2A on Saturday night.