Lambda (rocket family)

Lambda is the name of a series of Japanese carrier rockets.^[1][2] It consisted of the types Lambda 2,^[3][2] LSC-3,^[4] Lambda 3,^[5][2] Lambda 3H,^[2][6] Lambda 4S,^[2][7][8] Lambda 4SC,^[2][9] and Lambda 4T^[2][10] developed jointly by Institute of Industrial Science of the University of Tokyo, Institute of Space and Astronautical Science of the University of Tokyo, and Prince Motor Company, which merged with Nissan in 1966.^[11]

Lambda 4S (replica) and the launcher as exhibited at National Museum of Nature and Science.

Lambda series rockets did not have guidance systems, as they had the potential to be converted for offensive military use, thus interpreted as a violation of Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution. However, future Japanese launch vehicles, such as the H-II, were allowed to have guidance systems.^[12]

Configurations

Lambda types differ regarding the upper stages used. The following table shows the actual configurations:^[2]

Type	Boosters	Stage 1	Stage 2	Stage 3	Stage 4
Lambda 2	-	L-735	K-420	-	-
Lambda 3	-	L-735	K-420	Kappa-8	-
Lambda 3H	-	L-735	L-735(1/3)	L-500	-
Lambda 4S	2 × SB-310	L-735	L-735(1/3)	L-500	L-480S
Lambda 4SC	2 × SB-310	L-735	L-735(1/3)	L-500	L-480S
Lambda 4T	2 × SB-310	L-735	L-735(1/3)	L-500	L-480S

Launches

Lambda rockets were launched by ISAS, from Kagoshima pad L.^[1][2]

On February 11, 1970, the first Japanese satellite Ohsumi was launched using a Lambda 4S rocket.

The Lambda 4S was launched nine times, though five were failures.^[13][8] The first launch of the Lambda 4S rocket took place on September 26, 1966, from Kagoshima.^[14] A fourth-stage attitude control failed resulting in loss of the vehicle and payload.

List of Lambda launches

Date	Version	Apogee (km)	Mission
1963 August 24	Lambda 2	51	Failure
1963 December 11	Lambda 2	410	Ionosphere mission
1964 July 11	Lambda 3	857	Ionosphere mission
1965 January 31	Lambda 3	1040	Ionosphere mission
1965 March 18	Lambda 3	1085	X-ray astronomy mission
1966 March 5	Lambda 3H	1829	X-ray astronomy mission
1966 July 23	Lambda 3H	1800	Gyro-plasma probe Ionosphere / aeronomy mission
1966 September 26	Lambda 4S	400	Ohsumi launch attempt. Failure: Fourth stage attitude control failed
1966 December 20	Lambda 4S	400	Ohsumi launch attempt. Failure: Fourth stage failed to ignite
1967 February 6	Lambda 3H	2150	Ionosphere / chemical release / x-ray astronomy mission
1967 April 13	Lambda 4S	200	Ohsumi launch attempt. Failure: Fourth stage failed to ignite
1969 January 16	Lambda 3H	1800	Ionosphere mission
1969 September 3	Lambda 4T	400	Test mission
1969 September 22	Lambda 4S	400	Ohsumi launch attempt. Failure: Fourth stage control system malfunction after third stage collided with fourth stage
1970 January 21	Lambda 3H	1848	Ionosphere / plasma mission
1970 February 11	Lambda 4S	2440	Ohsumi (first successful satellite of Japan, fifth attempt of Lambda 4S)
1970 September 19	Lambda 3H	2017	X-ray / ultraviolet astronomy mission
1971 August 20	Lambda 4SC	1500	Failure
1971 September 3	Lambda 3H	1718	Aeronomy / ionosphere / x-ray astronomy mission
1973 January 28	Lambda 4SC	1500	TVC test
1974 January 22	Lambda 3H	1571	St 2: 329 km X-ray astronomy mission
1974 September 1	Lambda 4SC	1500	TVC test
1976 August 30	Lambda 4SC	1500	Radar transponder
1977 August 16	Lambda 3H	1294	Aeronomy / ionosphere / plasma mission
1979 September 20	Lambda 4SC	82	TVC test