Launch Success of
H-II Transfer Vehicle "KOUNOTORI5" (HTV5)
by H-IIB Launch Vehicle No. 5
August 19, 2015 (JST)
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
National Research and Development Agency
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency launched the H-IIB Launch Vehicle No.5 (H-IIB F5) with the KOUNOTORI5 (HTV5, a cargo transfer vehicle to the International Space Station) onboard at 8:50:49 p.m. on August 19 (Wed.) 2015 (Japan Standard Time, JST) from the Tanegashima Space Center.
The launch vehicle flew smoothly, and, at about 14 minutes and 54 seconds after liftoff, the separation of the KOUNOTORI5 was confirmed.
We would like to express our profound appreciation for the cooperation and support of all related personnel and organizations that helped contribute to the successful launch of the H-IIB F5.
At the time of the launch, the weather was fine, a wind speed was 3.5 meters/second from the south-south-east and the temperature was 27.8 degrees Celsius.
H-IIB Launch Vehicle No.5 Flight Sequence (Quick Estimation)
| Event | Actual value (Quick review)*1 |
|---|---|
| 1. Liftoff | 0 min. 0 sec. |
| 2. SRB-A burnout *2 | 1 min. 49 sec. |
| 3. SRB-A 1st pair jettison *3 | 2 min. 4 sec. |
| 4. SRB-A 2nd pair jettison *3 | 2 min. 7 sec. |
| 5. Payload fairing jettison | 3 min. 43 sec. |
| 6. First stage main engine cutoff (MECO) | 5 min. 49 sec. |
| 7. 1st and 2nd stages separation | 5 min. 57 sec. |
| 8. Second stage engine lock-in (SELI) | 6 min. 7 sec. |
| 9. Second stage engine cutoff (SECO) | 14 min. 46 sec. |
| 10. HTV5 separation | 14 min. 54 sec. |
*1 Quick estimation value prior to the detailed estimation
*2 When the combustion chamber pressure becomes 10% against the largest combustion pressure.
*3 The definition of SRB-A jettison is the separation of the rear brace.