Yoshinobu Launch Complex

Yoshinobu Launch Complex
	Full view of the Yoshinobu Launch Complex during roll out of the H-IIA rocket in February 2014
	Interactive map of Yoshinobu Launch Complex
Launch site	Tanegashima
Coordinates	30°24′08″N 130°58′30″E / 30.40222°N 130.97500°E
Short name	LA-Y
Operator	JAXA, NASDA (former)
Total launches	72
Launch pad	2
Status
LA-Y1 launch history
Status	Inactive
Launches	57
First launch	3 February 1994; H-II (VEP/OREX)
Last launch	28 June 2025; H-IIA (GOSAT-GW)
Associated; rockets	Retired: H-II, H-IIA; Future: H3;
LA-Y2 launch history
Status	Active
Launches	15
First launch	10 September 2009; H-IIB (HTV-1)
Last launch	12 June 2026; H3 (VEP-5)
Associated; rockets	Current: H3; Retired: H-IIB;

Yoshinobu Launch Complex (abbreviated LA-Y) is a rocket launch site at the Tanegashima Space Center on Tanegashima island in Japan.^[1]^[2]

History

The Yoshinobu Launch Complex was built in the early 1990s to support launches of larger medium-lift launch vehicles, as the existing Osaki Launch Complex had been designed for small-lift launch vehicles. The Yoshinobu complex was initially developed for the H-II launch vehicle and has since supported launches of the H-IIA, H-IIB, and H3 rockets.^[3]

Facilities

The complex consists of two launch pads:

LA-Y1: previously used for H-II and H-IIA launches, planned to support H3 in the future
LA-Y2: used for H3 launches, previously used for H-IIB launches

The site includes a vehicle assembly building (VAB), where launch vehicles delivered from manufacturing facilities are assembled, inspected, and prepared for launch. The building can accommodate the simultaneous assembly of two launch vehicles. Rockets are assembled atop a mobile launcher platform (ML), after which the payload and payload fairing are installed before rollout to the launch pad. The VAB is 81 metres (266 ft) tall, 64 metres (210 ft) wide, and 34.5 metres (113 ft) meters deep.^[3]^[4] The rocket is transported to the launch pad about twelve hours before launch. Transport from the assembly building to pad takes approximately thirty minutes.^[5]

The complex also contains the Yoshinobu Block House, located approximately 500 metres (1,600 ft) from the launch pads, next to the VAB. The launch control room is located 12 metres (39 ft) underground, where launch operations and countdown procedures are remotely monitored and controlled.^[3]

The Yoshinobu Firing Test Stand is used for ground testing of first-stage rocket engines. It is currently used to test the LE-9 engine developed for the H3 launch vehicle.^[3]

References

↑ "Tanegashima Y". astronautix.com. Archived from the original on 28 December 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
↑ "Tanegashima Space Center (TNSC)". JAXA. Archived from the original on 8 December 2006. Retrieved 19 January 2009.
1 2 3 4 "Tanegashima Space Center brochure" (PDF). JAXA. June 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
↑ "Launch Preparation Report". H-IIA Launch Services Flight 15. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. 16 January 2009. Archived from the original on 30 January 2009. Retrieved 19 January 2009.
↑ "Countdown Report". H-IIA Launch Vehicle 14. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. 23 February 2008. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 19 January 2009.

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[EA-TNSC-1] "Tanegashima Y". astronautix.com. Archived from the original on 28 December 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2020.

[JAXA-2] "Tanegashima Space Center (TNSC)". JAXA. Archived from the original on 8 December 2006. Retrieved 19 January 2009.

[brochure-3] 1 2 3 4 "Tanegashima Space Center brochure" (PDF). JAXA. June 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2026.

[MHI-GOSAT-4] "Launch Preparation Report". H-IIA Launch Services Flight 15. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. 16 January 2009. Archived from the original on 30 January 2009. Retrieved 19 January 2009.

[5] "Countdown Report". H-IIA Launch Vehicle 14. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. 23 February 2008. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 19 January 2009.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

v t e Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency facilities
Spaceports	Tanegashima Space Center Osaki Launch Complex Yoshinobu Launch Complex Uchinoura Space Center
Research and testing	Chofu Aerospace Center Tsukuba Space Center Sagamihara Campus (Extraterrestrial Sample Curation Center) Kakuda Space Center Noshiro Rocket Testing Center Taiki Aerospace Research Field Nagoya Flight Research Center [ja]
Tracking and communications	Earth Observation Center Usuda Deep Space Center Katsuura Tracking and Communications Station [ja] Masuda Tracking and Communications Station [ja] Okinawa Tracking and Communications Station [ja] Ogasawara Downrange Station [ja]

History

Facilities

See also

References