Press Release

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Result of the First Captive Firing Test
for the First Stage Flight Model Tank
of the H-IIB Launch Vehicle

April 2, 2009 (JST)

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. performed the first captive firing test (CFT) for the first stage flight model tank of the H-IIB Launch Vehicle on April 2, 2009 (Japan Standard Time,) at the Tanegashima Space Center. The test went smoothly as follows.

Test purpose -To verify the safety of firing two engines simultaneously.
-To confirm the interface between the launch vehicle and the ground facility.
-To confirm the countdown sequence up to liftoff.
Firing time 2:00 p.m.
Firing duration 10 seconds (10)
Main combustion pressure No. 1 Engine No. 2 Engine
About 12.0 Mpa
(11.7 to 12.9)
 About 12.0 Mpa
(11.7 to 12.9)

Numbers in (   ) are scheduled values

We would like to express our profound appreciation to all people and parties related with this CFT.
For your information, the weather at the time of the CFT was fine, wind was 2.7 meters per second from the north-east, and the temperature was 14.0 degrees Celsius.