Takayuki Yamamoto

© 2019 IAA This paper investigates the launch capability of the SS-520 as a CubeSat launch vehicle. The SS-520 was developed by JAXA originally as a two-stage, spin-stabilized, solid-propellant sounding rocket. With less than 2.6 tons in total mass and 10 m in length, the SS-520-5 successfully launched a single 3U-sized CubeSat into orbit on February 3, 2018. The SS-520-5 obtained its capability as a CubeSat launch vehicle by installing a 3rd stage solid motor in addition to the RCS between the 1st and 2nd stages. However, its launch capability was limited due to its rocket system configuration. In order to pursue the SS-520's launch capability, two effective modifications from the SS-520-5 are proposed: thrust enhancement of the 1st stage motor and installation of an additional RCS between the 2nd and 3rd stages. The framework of launch capability analysis is established by a multi-objective genetic algorithm (MOGA), where its two objectives are selected as the altitudes of perigee and apogee. The analysis reveals that the two proposed modifications to the SS-520-5 work effectively but differently. The 10% increase of the 1st stage enhancement is particularly effective when the target altitude of perigee is low (e.g., 200 km), whereas the installment of the additional RCS with 30 kg increases accessibility to a much higher altitude of perigee, even to circular orbit reaching altitudes of 550 km for a 1U-sized CubeSat and 280 km for a 6U-sized CubeSat. The simultaneous application of both modifications would result in launch capability able to deliver a 10-kg payload. From a more general perspective, the results in this paper suggest that it is possible for a very small launch vehicle (VSLV) of the 3-ton class and 10 m in length to deliver a 10-kg-class payload into low Earth orbit.