Earth Science
Vietnamese Synthetic Aperture Radar Earth observation satellite build by NEC Corporation of Japan, based on Japan's ASNARO 2 satellite and the NEXTAR NX-300L satellite bus. The satellite will contribute to measures against natural disasters and climate change in Vietnam.
Orbital Attempt
#7,471
JAXA Mission
#38
Pad Launch
#37
Location Launch
#44
Dec 31, 2026, 12:00 AM
Year
1 update
The Uchinoura Space Center is a space launch facility in the Japanese town of Kimotsuki, Kagoshima Prefecture. All of Japan's scientific satellites were launched from Uchinoura prior to the M-V launch vehicles being decommissioned in 2006. It continues to be used for suborbital launches, stratospheric balloons and has also been used for the Epsilon orbital launch vehicle. Additionally, the center has antennas for communication with interplanetary space probes.
Timezone
Asia/Tokyo
Local Launch Time
Dec 31, 2026, 9:00 AM
Total Launches
43
Total Landings
0
Coordinates
31.2519, 131.0819
The Epsilon S rocket is a Japanese solid-fuel rocket designed to launch scientific satellites. It is a follow-on project to the larger and more expensive M-V rocket which was retired in 2006. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) began developing the Epsilon in 2007. The first stage is based on SRB-3, the strap-on solid-rocket booster of H3
Length
24.4 m
Diameter
2.5 m
Launch Mass
91 t
Thrust
2,158 kN
SSO Capacity
600 kg
Launch Cost
$39M
Reusable
No
Maiden Flight
2013
Total Launches
0
Successful
0
Failed
0
Consecutive Success
0
Maiden flight: Sep 14, 2013
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is Japan's national aero-space agency. Through the merger of three previously independent organizations, JAXA was formed on 1 October 2003. JAXA is responsible for research, technology development and the launch of satellites into orbit, and is involved in many more advanced missions, such as asteroid exploration and possible manned exploration of the Moon. JAXA launch their Epsilon vehicle from the Uchinoura Space Center and their H-II vehicles from the Tanegashima Space Center.
Founded
2003
Administrator
Administrator: Hiroshi Yamakawa
Total Launches
37
Successful
33
Failed
4
Pending
2
Consecutive Success
2