Lambda 4
Lamda-4S
All-solid orbital launch vehicle. Year: 1966. Family: Lambda. Country: Japan. Status: Out of production.

First Japanese orbital launch vehicle.

Manufacturer: Nissan. Launches: 9. Failures: 5. Success Rate: 44.44%. First Launch Date: 1966-09-26. Last Launch Date: 1974-09-01. Launch data is: complete. LEO Payload: 26 kg (57 lb). Associated Spacecraft: Ohsumi, Osumi.

Model: Lambda 4S. Family: Lambda. Country: Japan.

5 stage vehicle consisting of 2 x SB-310 + 1 x L735 + 1 x L735(1/3) + 1 x L500 + 1 x L480S

LEO Payload: 26 kg (57 lb). Apogee: 5,000 km (3,100 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 970.000 kN (218,060 lbf). Total Mass: 9,400 kg (20,700 lb). Core Diameter: 0.74 m (2.42 ft). Total Length: 16.50 m (54.10 ft).

Model: Lambda 4SC. Family: Lambda. Country: Japan.

5 stage vehicle consisting of 2 x SB-310 + 1 x L735 + 1 x L735(1/3) + 1 x L500 + 1 x L480S

Apogee: 2,000 km (1,200 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 970.000 kN (218,060 lbf). Total Mass: 9,400 kg (20,700 lb). Total Length: 16.50 m (54.10 ft).

Model: Lambda 4T. Family: Lambda. Country: Japan.

5 stage vehicle consisting of 2 x SB-310 + 1 x L735 + 1 x L735(1/3) + 1 x L500 + 1 x L480S

Apogee: 2,000 km (1,200 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 970.000 kN (218,060 lbf). Total Mass: 9,400 kg (20,700 lb). Total Length: 16.50 m (54.10 ft).

Lambda 4 Chronology

1966 September 26 - 02:58 GMT - Launch Site: Kagoshima. Launch Complex: L. Launch Pad: L. Launch Vehicle: Lambda 4. Model: Lambda 4S. LV Configuration: Lambda 4S L-4S-1. FAILURE: Fourth stage attitude control failed.

  • Ohsumi 1 Nation: Japan. Payload: L-4S-1. Mass: 26 kg (57 lb). Class: Technology. Spacecraft: Ohsumi. Agency: ISAS. Apogee: 400 km (240 mi). COSPAR: F660926A. Decay Date: 1966-09-26. References: 5, 126.
1966 December 20 - 02:20 GMT - Launch Site: Kagoshima. Launch Complex: L. Launch Pad: L. Launch Vehicle: Lambda 4. Model: Lambda 4S. LV Configuration: Lambda 4S L-4S-2. FAILURE: Fourth stage failed to ignite.
  • Ohsumi 2 Nation: Japan. Payload: L-4S-2. Mass: 26 kg (57 lb). Class: Technology. Spacecraft: Ohsumi. Agency: ISAS. Apogee: 400 km (240 mi). COSPAR: F661220A. Decay Date: 1966-12-19. References: 5, 126.
1967 April 13 - Launch Site: Kagoshima. Launch Complex: L. Launch Pad: L. Launch Vehicle: Lambda 4. Model: Lambda 4S. LV Configuration: Lambda 4S L-4S-3. FAILURE: Fourth stage failed to ignite.
  • Ohsumi 3 Nation: Japan. Payload: L-4S-3. Mass: 26 kg (57 lb). Class: Technology. Spacecraft: Ohsumi. Agency: ISAS. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi). COSPAR: F670413A. Decay Date: 1967-04-13. References: 5, 126.
1969 September 3 - Launch Site: Kagoshima. Launch Complex: L. Launch Vehicle: Lambda 4. Model: Lambda 4T. LV Configuration: Lambda 4T L-4T-1.
  • Test mission Nation: Japan. Agency: ISAS. Apogee: 400 km (240 mi). References: 1139.
1969 September 22 - 02:10 GMT - Launch Site: Kagoshima. Launch Complex: L. Launch Pad: L. Launch Vehicle: Lambda 4. Model: Lambda 4S. LV Configuration: Lambda 4S L-4S-4. FAILURE: Fourth stage control system malfunction after third stage collided with fourth stage.
  • Ohsumi 4 Nation: Japan. Payload: L-4S-4. Mass: 25 kg (55 lb). Class: Technology. Spacecraft: Ohsumi. Agency: ISAS. Apogee: 400 km (240 mi). COSPAR: F690922A. Decay Date: 1969-09-22. References: 5, 126.
1970 February 11 - 04:25 GMT - Launch Site: Kagoshima. Launch Complex: L. Launch Pad: L. Launch Vehicle: Lambda 4. Model: Lambda 4S. LV Configuration: Lambda 4S L-4S-5.
  • Ohsumi 5 Nation: Japan. Payload: L-4S-5. Mass: 12 kg (26 lb). Class: Technology. Spacecraft: Osumi. Agency: ISAS. Perigee: 323 km (200 mi). Apogee: 2,440 km (1,510 mi). Inclination: 31.00 deg. Period: 113.40 min. COSPAR: 1970-011A. USAF Sat Cat: 4330. Decay Date: 2003-08-02. Engineering tests. Engineering test for the launching of scientific satellites. Injection point 29.7 N, 145.8 E References: 1, 2, 5, 6.
1971 August 20 - Launch Site: Kagoshima. Launch Complex: L. Launch Vehicle: Lambda 4. Model: Lambda 4SC. LV Configuration: Lambda 4SC L-4SC-1. FAILURE: Failure.
  • TVC test mission Nation: Japan. Agency: ISAS. Apogee: 1,500 km (900 mi). References: 1148.
1973 January 28 - Launch Site: Kagoshima. Launch Complex: L. Launch Vehicle: Lambda 4. Model: Lambda 4SC. LV Configuration: Lambda 4SC L-4SC-2.
  • TVC test mission Nation: Japan. Agency: ISAS. Apogee: 1,500 km (900 mi). References: 1148.
1974 Sep? - Launch Site: Kagoshima. Launch Complex: L. Launch Vehicle: Lambda 4. Model: Lambda 4SC. LV Configuration: Lambda 4SC L-4SC-3.
  • TVC test mission Nation: Japan. Agency: ISAS. Apogee: 1,500 km (900 mi). References: 1836.
Bibliography and Further Reading
  • McDowell, Jonathan, Jonathan's Space Home Page, Harvard University, 1997-present. Jonathan McDowell's complete on-line listing of all objects orbited and over 20,000 rocket launches Accessed at: http://www.planet4589.org/jsr.html.
  • Gatland, Kenneth, Missiles and Rockets, Macmillan, New York, 1975. ISBN: 0713735058. Covers rocketry of all nations. More at amazon.com...
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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