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TNSC is located on the southeast coast of Tanegashima Island, so when rockets are launched, you can see them rising with the blue ocean in the background. It is a striking spectacle, especially in the summer, when sunshine reflects off the water. This stunning setting makes TNSC probably the most beautiful rocket-launch complex in the world. But in reality, the environment is not that friendly, as the sea wind blows in on the launch area and salt in the wind causes rust. We are constantly fighting rust by washing salt off the facilities with water. The facilities also get damaged by the burning gas expelled from the rocket, and they need to be repaired after every launch. Once the repairs are done, we perform a thorough inspection, to make sure the facilities are ready for the next launch.
Rocket launches would not be possible without proper facilities and maintenance staff, who rarely get public attention. We work not for the attention, but simply to ensure a successful launch. I take great pride in my work at the space center. |
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I have been involved in almost all the rocket launches at TNSC. In the last 30 years, I have watched 37 rockets take off with a satellite on board. Tanegashima is full of my sweet and bitter memories.
Among my most joyful memories is N-I rocket No. 1, launched on September 9, 1975. It was the first launch I was involved in. I was a member of the flight safety team at that time, and my job was to use a "Wire Sky Screen", a wire strung across a wooden frame, to watch whether the rocket was flying straight. That first N-I rocket was Japan?s first attempt at a vertical launch; prior launches had used an inclined trajectory. Even though I understood the logic of the mechanism, I was still anxious about whether the rocket would really lift off. It was very moving to watch it ascending slowly in front of me, flying evenly along the line, within the frame of the screen. I still think of that moment sometimes.
On the other hand, the memories of failure are always painful. In November 1999, H-II F8, carrying the Multi-functional Transport Satellite (MTSAT), owned by the Civil Aviation Bureau and the Japan Meteorological Agency, failed to launch. I was the chief liaison between the institutions and the space center, and also a manager associated with purchasing for the rocket body. The launch seemed to be going well until the burst from the first stage suddenly stopped. I could not grasp what had just happened and my mind went blank. However, 30 minutes later, I had to meet the press to explain the situation. Looking at the faces around me, I was full of regret, thinking of the troubles and disappointment caused by the accident.
After a full failure investigation, we resumed launching with H-IIA F1, in August 2001. The two years from the failure until the success of this launch was a very difficult time for me, so I was quite emotional when H-IIA F1 took off safely. I experienced the same feelings again later, when H-IIA F7 was launched successfully after the failure of F6. These experiences have taught me that we should never allow ourselves to make the same mistake twice. As a team, I hope we will all make efforts together to ensure perfect launch conditions. |
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The Yoshinobu Block House |
The Launch Control Room. Direct instructions, control and monitoring are performed here for every aspect of a launch. |
The Range Control Center, where all managers gather and all launch information is collected. |
Sonoda working in the range control room
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