Japan develops new boosters

Japan is planning to launch Epsilon light boosters in the summer of 2013, RIA Novosti reports from Japan Space Exploration Agency (JAXA) today October 30.

The goal of JAXA in this plan is to build a less expensive booster to bring satellites into space.

Simulation of Epsilon missile

The expected Epsilon missile will replace the same M-5 missile, successfully implementing seven cosmic launches from 1997 to 2006.

Epsilon is a three-stage rocket that uses solid fuel designed to lift equipment weighing nearly 1,200kg to the low orbit of the earth; while M-5 has to lift the volume of more than 1,800 kg to the same orbit on.

However, the cost of an Epsilon missile launch is about $ 48 million, much cheaper than the $ 70 million for M-5 launchers.

According to RIA Novosti, to cut costs, Epsilon missiles are designed based on the technology of M-5 and H-2A. Accordingly, the first floor of Epsilon takes the technology of the H-2A rocket booster using solid fuel, while the other two floors depend on the technology of the M-5.

It is known that JAXA plans to spend a total of 250 million USD to develop Epsilon.