H-IIA 202

H-IIA is a Japanese Launch Vehicle. It is a two-stage rocket operated by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and MHI. H-IIA is built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. The Vehicle is capable of flying satellite missions as well as releasing spacecraft into planetary trajectories. Based on its capabilities, H-IIA is a medium-lift launcher which can place payloads in a variety of Orbits including Low Earth orbit and Geostationary Transfer Orbit.

The H-IIA Rocket is being launched from the Tanegashima Space Center, Japan. Current Launches are operated by MHI only as JAXA handed the Launch System over in 2007.
To date, H-IIA has completed over 20 successful missions demonstrating its capabilities and delivering payloads to space. One mission was catalogued as a failure. H-IIA has a success rate of 95%. The Launcher made its maiden voyage on August 29, 2001.

Two test flights were completed before regular missions of the H-IIA were introduced. Since then, the vehicle has delivered a variety of payloads into different Earth Orbits including Geostationary Transfer Orbit, also, the launcher has sent spacecraft on Planetary Trajectories.

H-IIA is derived from the original H-II that underwent extensive modifications to reduce costs and increase reliability. The Launcher can fly in different versions with different numbers Solid and Liquid Fueled Strap-On Boosters. Flight proven components of the H-IIA series are also being used on the H-IIB Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle that is being used for International Space Station Resupply Mission using the H-II Transfer Vehicle.