LE-9
Country of originJapan
DesignerJAXA
ManufacturerMitsubishi Heavy Industries
Applicationsustainer engine
Associated LVH3 Launch Vehicle
PredecessorLE-7A
StatusIn production
Liquid-fuel engine
PropellantLiquid oxygen / Liquid hydrogen
Mixture ratio5.9
CycleExpander Bleed cycle
Configuration
Chamber1
Nozzle ratio37
Performance
Thrust, vacuum1,471 kN (331,000 lbf)
Thrust-to-weight ratio62.50
Chamber pressure10.0 MPa (1,450 psi)
Specific impulse, vacuum426 s (4.18 km/s)
Dimensions
Length3.8 m
Dry weight2.4 t (5,300 lb)
Used in
H3 Launch Vehicle core stage.
References
References[1][2][3][4]

The LE-9 is a liquid cryogenic rocket engine burning liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen in an expander bleed cycle. Two or three will be used to power the core stage of the H3 launch vehicle.[1][2][5]

The newly developed LE-9 engine is the most important factor in achieving cost reduction, improved safety and increased thrust. The expander bleed cycle used in the LE-9 engine is a highly reliable combustion method that Japan has put into practical use for the LE-5A/B engine. However, it is physically difficult for an expander bleed cycle engine to generate large thrust, so the development of the LE-9 engine with a thrust of 1,471 kN (331,000 lbf) is the most challenging and important development element.[6]

Firing tests of the LE-9 first-stage engine began in April 2017.[7]

On 21 January 2022, the launch of the first H3 was rescheduled to FY 2022 or later, citing technical problems regarding the first stage LE-9 engine.[8]

The LE-9 was operated successfully for the first time, on March 7, 2023. The second stage of that rocket, did not ignite and the mission was a failure. [9]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Atsumi, Masahiro; Yoshikawa, Kimito; Ogawara, Akira; Onga, Tadaoki (December 2011). "Development of the LE-X Engine" (PDF). MHI Technical Review. 48 (4): 36–43. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-12-24. Retrieved 2015-07-08.
  2. 1 2 Kumada, Nobuhiko; Ogawara, Akira; Manako, Hiroyasu; Onga, Tadaoki; Sunakawa, Hideo; Kurosu, Akihide; Iizuka, Nobuyuki; Noda, Keiichiro; Okita, Koichi (2010-07-26). "Highly Reliable Design Approaches for Next Booster Engine LE-X" (PDF). 46th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference & Exhibit. 46 (AIAA 2010-6853). doi:10.2514/6.2010-6853. ISBN 978-1-60086-958-7. S2CID 110462567. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-06-12. Retrieved 2015-07-08.
  3. ↑ Watanabe, Daiki; Imai, Kazuhiro; Ogawara, Akira; Yamanishi, Nobuhiro; Neghishi, Hideyo; Kawatsu, Kaname; Kurosu, Akihide; Noda, Keiichiro (2011-07-31). "Application of High Fidelity Simulation to LE-X Engine Development" (PDF). 47th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference & Exhibit. 47 (AIAA 2011-5930). doi:10.2514/6.2011-5930. ISBN 978-1-60086-949-5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-06-10. Retrieved 2015-07-08.
  4. ↑ Daiki, Watanabe; Manako, Hiroyasu; Onga, Tadaoki; Tamura, Takashi; Ikeda, Kazufumi; Isono, Mitsunori (December 2016). "Combustion Stability Improvement of LE-9 Engine for Booster Stage of H3 Launch Vehicle" (PDF). MHI Technical Review. 53 (4): 28–35. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-03-03. Retrieved 2017-06-29.
  5. ↑ "2020年：H3ロケットの目指す姿" [2020: H3 projected debut date] (PDF) (in Japanese). JAXA. 2015-07-08. Retrieved 2015-07-08.
  6. ↑ Shinya Torishima (24 September 2020). "H3ロケット開発を襲った"魔物"とは？、エンジンに見つかった技術的課題" (in Japanese). Mynavi news. Archived from the original on 1 October 2020.
  7. ↑ LE-9 燃焼試験 (in Japanese). JAXA. Archived from the original on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  8. ↑ "H3ロケットの試験機1号機の打上げについて" (in Japanese). JAXA. January 21, 2022. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Japan's new H3 rocket fails to reach orbit, self-destruct command issued ;Spacedaily".


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