H-IIB

In-active

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI)

Sept. 10, 2009

Description

H-IIB (H2B) is an expendable launch system used to launch H-II Transfer Vehicles (HTV, or Kounotori) towards the International Space Station. H-IIB rockets are liquid-fuelled with solid-fuel strap-on boosters and are launched from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan. Mitsubishi and JAXA have been primarily responsible for design, manufacture, and operation of H-IIB.

Specifications
  • Max Stage
    2
  • Length
    56.6 m
  • Diameter
    5.2 m
  • Fairing Diameter
    ―
  • Launch Mass
    551.0 T
  • Thrust
    9000.0 kN
Family
  • Name
    H-IIB
  • Family
    ―
  • Variant
    304
  • Alias
    ―
  • Full Name
    H-IIB 304
Payload Capacity
  • Launch Cost
    $112500000
  • Low Earth Orbit
    16500.0 kg
  • Geostationary Transfer Orbit
    8000.0 kg
  • Direct Geostationary
    ―
  • Sun-Synchronous Capacity
    ―

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries

Commercial
President: Seiji Izumisawa
MHI 1884

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. is a Japanese multinational engineering, electrical equipment and electronics company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. MHI is one of the core companies of the Mitsubishi Group. MHI's products include aerospace components, air conditioners, aircraft, automotive components, forklift trucks, hydraulic equipment, machine tools, missiles, power generation equipment, printing machines, ships and space launch vehicles. Through its defense-related activities, it is the world's 23rd-largest defense contractor measured by 2011 defense revenues and the largest based in Japan.

Previous Flights

flew on nine previous launch(es).

H-IIB 304 | Kounotori 9 (HTV-9)

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries | Japan
Tanegashima Space Center, Japan
May 20, 2020, 5:31 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

The last H-II Transfer Vehicle "Kounotori" will be launched on an H-IIB 304 launch vehicle, carrying 6,200 kg (13,669 lbs) of supplies and science experiments to be conducted by astronauts aboard the International Space Station. Kounotori 9 will be the last original HTV spacecaft : its successor scheduled to launch in February 2022 will be the first of the new HTV-X version.

Low Earth Orbit
Explore Share

H-IIB 304 | Kounotori 8 (HTV-8)

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries | Japan
Tanegashima Space Center, Japan
Sept. 24, 2019, 4:05 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

Uncrewed cargo resupply mission to International Space Station.

Low Earth Orbit #HTV8
Explore Share

H-IIB 304 | Kounotori 7 (HTV-7)

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries | Japan
Tanegashima Space Center, Japan
Sept. 22, 2018, 5:52 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

Uncrewed cargo resupply mission to International Space Station.

Low Earth Orbit #HTV7
Explore Share

H-IIB 304 | Kounotori 6 (HTV-6)

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries | Japan
Tanegashima Space Center, Japan
Dec. 9, 2016, 1:26 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

This is the sixth flight of an uncrewed cargo spacecraft to International Space Station. It will bring the replacement for the batteries used on the Station to store electricity generated by solar panels, as well as 600 liters of potable water.

Low Earth Orbit
Explore Share

H-IIB 304 | Kounotori 5 (HTV-5)

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries | Japan
Tanegashima Space Center, Japan
Aug. 19, 2015, 11:50 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

Uncrewed cargo resupply mission to International Space Station.

Low Earth Orbit
Explore Share

H-IIB 304 | Kounotori 4 (HTV-4)

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries | Japan
Tanegashima Space Center, Japan
Aug. 3, 2013, 7:48 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

Uncrewed cargo resupply mission to International Space Station delayed from June 2012.

Low Earth Orbit
Explore Share

H-IIB 304 | Kounotori 3 (HTV-3)

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries | Japan
Tanegashima Space Center, Japan
July 21, 2012, 2:06 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

Uncrewed cargo resupply mission to International Space Station.

Low Earth Orbit
Explore Share

H-IIB 304 | Kounotori 2 (HTV-2)

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries | Japan
Tanegashima Space Center, Japan
Jan. 22, 2011, 5:37 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

Uncrewed cargo resupply mission to International Space Station.

Low Earth Orbit
Explore Share

H-IIB 304 | Kounotori 1 (HTV-1)

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries | Japan
Tanegashima Space Center, Japan
Sept. 10, 2009, 5:01 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

Maiden flight of the uncrewed cargo spacecraft to International Space Station.

Low Earth Orbit
Explore Share
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