The Lambda 4S or L-4S was an experimental Japanese expendable carrier rocket. It was produced by Nissan and the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science and launched five times between 1966 and 1970 with Ohsumi technology demonstration satellites. The first four launches failed, however the fifth, launched on 11 February 1970, successfully placed Ohsumi-5, the first Japanese satellite, into orbit.[2][3]

L-4S-5
FunctionExperimental carrier rocket
ManufacturerISAS
Nissan
Country of originJapan
Size
Height16.5 metres (54 ft)
Diameter0.74 metres (2 ft 5 in)
Mass9,400 kilograms (20,700 lb)
Stages4
Capacity
Payload to LEO
Mass26 kilograms (57 lb)[1]
Associated rockets
FamilyLambda
Derivative workLambda 4SC
Launch history
StatusRetired
Launch sitesKagoshima Pad L
Total launches5
Success(es)1
Failure(s)4
First flight26 September 1966
Last flight11 February 1970
Type of passengers/cargoOhsumi

The Lambda 4S consisted of four stages, with two booster rockets augmenting the first stage. SB-310 rockets were used as boosters, with an L735 first stage. The second stage was a reduced length derivative of the L735, whilst an L500 was used as the third stage.[4] The fourth stage was an L480S. All four stages burned solid propellant.[3]

The Lambda 4S could place 26 kilograms (57 lb) of payload into low Earth orbit. It was launched from the Kagoshima Space Centre. Following its retirement in 1970, a sounding rocket derived from it, the Lambda 4SC, flew three times in order to test technologies for the Mu rockets to follow. The Mu replaced Lambda for orbital launches.

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Lambda 4S". Astronautix. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  2. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Lambda". Orbital and Suborbital Launch Database. Jonathan's Space Page. Archived from the original on 2012-10-19. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  3. ^ a b Wade, Mark. "Lambda". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 2012-10-22. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  4. ^ "Comparison of Orbital Vehicles". Archived from the original on October 16, 2015. Retrieved 2015-10-16.
edit