Launch Postponement of
H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 26
with Hayabusa2 Onboard
November 28, 2014 (JST)
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
The launch of the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 26 (H-IIA F26) with the Asteroid Explorer “Hayabusa2” onboard has been rescheduled as clouds including a freezing layer (please refer to the following figure) that exceeds the restrictions for suitable weather are forecast to be generated at around the scheduled launch time on November 30 (Sun.), 2014 (Japan Standard Time.)
The new launch day will be no earlier than December 1 (Mon.), 2014 (JST).
The new launch day and time will be announced as soon as it is determined after carefully examining the weather conditions.
(Attachment)
[Launch restrictions concerning lightening/thunder]
- If lightening/thunder is detected within 20 km of the nominal flight trajectory, the launch should not be conducted for 30 minutes. However, when no thunder clouds nor cumulonimbus or anvil clouds exist within the 20 km, the launch can be performed.
- The ground field intensity near the launch pad must be in the range between more than or equal to -2 kV/m and less than or equal to + 2 kV/m for 15 minutes around the launch time.
- No thunder clouds should exist within 10 km of the radius of the launch pad.
- The launch should not be conducted if the nominal flight trajectory passes through the following.
(a) Within 20 km of thunder clouds, cumulonimbus, and/or anvil clouds.
(b) Clouds that include a freezing layer and their thickness in the vertical direction is 1.8 km or more.
(c) A cold front and squall line along with clouds whose top height is more than 3 km.