Ōsumi, Japan's first satellite
Ōsumi, primer satélite japonés
- Date
- 11 de febrero de 1970 · confidence high
- Place
- Uchinoura Space Center, Kimotsuki, Kagoshima, Japan
- Credited to
- Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, University of Tokyo (Hideo Itokawa)
- Field
- Movement
What it is
Japan put its first satellite in orbit with the solid-fuel Lambda-4S rocket after four failed attempts. It became the fourth country with its own launcher after the USSR, the United States and France.
Itokawa's rockets descend from his 1955 'pencil' rockets. China launched its first satellite two months later.
What it led to
- the solid-fuel Mu rocket series
- ISAS planetary probes (Sakigake, Suisei, Hayabusa)
- the dual ISAS and NASDA space structure, later JAXA