GX
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Function | Medium expendable Launch vehicle |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Galaxy Express (JAXA/ULA/IHI) |
| Country of origin | Japan/United States |
| Size | |
| Height | 48m |
| Diameter | 3.3m |
| Mass | 190,500 kg (210 tons) |
| Stages | 2 |
| Capacity | |
| Payload to LEO | 3,600kg (4 tons) |
| Payload to 800km SSO |
1,814kg (2 tons) |
| Launch history | |
| Status | In Development |
| Launch sites | Vandenberg SLC-3E |
| First stage - Atlas CCB | |
| Engines | 1 RD-180 |
| Thrust | 4,152 kN (933,406 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | 311 sec |
| Burn time | 253 seconds |
| Fuel | RP-1/LOX |
| Second stage - GX | |
| Engines | 1 liquid |
| Thrust | 118 kN |
| Specific impulse | 323 sec |
| Burn time | 480 seconds |
| Fuel | LNG/LOX |
The GX expendable launch vehicle is a rocket currently under development by the Galaxy Express Corporation, a joint venture between IHI Corporation (IHI), the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), United Launch Alliance (ULA), Lockheed Martin Corporation[citation needed] (LM) and several other Japanese companies.
The GX is a two stage rocket. The first stage will be the Atlas Common Core Booster, currently used as the first stage of the Atlas V rocket, which will be provided by United Launch Alliance.[1] The second stage will be a newly-designed stage produced by IHI, using liquefied natural gas as fuel and liquid oxygen as an oxidizer. The GX will be the only space vehicle to use that combination of fuel and oxidizer.
The GX is intended to compete in the commercial satellite-launch sector. The program began as an effort to upgrade Japan's J-I rocket, which launched only once. Thus, GX was originally known as J-II, albeit briefly. For a time, the program was termed J1-Upgrade, before finally settling on the current name in January 2003.
JAXA reported that a full-scale second-stage engine had been successfully test-fired in October 2007. JAXA is developing this engine, the responsibility for which would eventually be turned over to the Galaxy Express venture.
In late December 2007, The Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper reported that the GX program was being subjected to a thorough review, mainly because of unexpectedly high additional costs. It also erroneously claimed that ULA partner Lockheed Martin had discontinued production of the first stage engine, thereby requiring a redesign, likely costly, to move to another engine. The paper said that the 15 billion yen that JAXA requested for the GX project was eventually slashed to 5.6 billion yen in the Fiscal 2008 budget.
The GX will be launched from Space Launch Complex 3E at the Vandenberg Air Force Base, in California, United States.[1] The maiden flight is currently scheduled for 2012.[1]
It was originally designed to use an Atlas III first stage instead of the CCB, and to be launched from Tanegashima in Japan, however this was abandoned in 2009 in favour of the current configuration.
In May 2008, it was reported that the Space Development Committee, who are overseeing the project, were considering its cancellation.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c "GX Launch Vehicle". United Launch Alliance. http://www.ulalaunch.com/docs/product_sheet/GXProductCard.pdf. Retrieved on 2009-05-07.
[edit] External links
- GALAXY EXPRESS
- Further delay for GX rocket; govt mulls bigger role, Yomiuri Shimbun article, 24 Dec 2007
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