L series (Japanese rockets)

L-4S #5 on its launch pad

Japan's first family of orbital launch vehicles. The Lambda, or L series, rockets were effectively scaled-up versions of the solid-propellant Kappa sounding rockets. The fifth launch of an L-4S placed Japan's first artificial satellite, Ohsumi, in orbit on Feb. 11, 1970.

Data for the L-4S #5 that launched Japan's first satellite
		1st st.	SOB	2nd st.	3rd st.	4th st.
total length	m	16.522	5.772	8.141	4.067	1.104
weight (ig.)	kg	9399.0	1005.0	3417.6	943.1	111.0
weight (b.o.)	kg	4507.0	381.0	1562.5	394.9	23.05
propellant weight	kg	3887.0	624.0	1845.0	547.5	87.95
mass ratio		1.982		2.187	2.388	4.816
specific impulse	sec	215.0	220.0	242.9	249.3	254.0
center of gravity (ig.)	%	59.0	52.9	63.0	61.8	64.5
center of gravity (b.o.)	%	43.2	54.3	49.6	44.8	55.7
Ix (ig.)	kg.m.sec²	79.89		25.48	3.52	0.259
Iy (b.o.)	kg.m.sec²	16192		1259.4	99.71	0.436
net payload	kg			6.6	36.3	7.62
gross payload	kg			7.6	96.1	8.42
maximum diameter	mm	767.0	310.0	767.0	548.0	483.0

Related categories

• ROCKETS, MISSILES, AND LAUNCH VEHICLES
• JAPANESE LAUNCH VEHICLES

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Encyclopedia of Alternative Energy & Sustainable Living
Encyclopedia of History

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