Although the GTV was not equipped with the fairing, the flight engine and four Solid Rocket Boosters (SRB-As) were attached. During the test, the same procedures as the actual launch procedures were followed, up until the engine ignition for the final confirmation of the vehicle, ground facilities, and operation procedures.
Japan has been developing its own launch vehicles, based upon various researches and experiments. Among launch vehicles, the H-IIA launch vehicle has been supporting satellite launch missions as a major large-scale launch vehicle with high reliability. It is the H-IIB launch vehicle that is an upgraded version of the current H-IIA launch capacity and will be expected to open the door to a new possibility for future missions, including cargo transport to the International Space Station (ISS) and to the Moon. The H-IIB launch vehicle has two major purposes. One is to launch the H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV) to the ISS. HTV will carry necessary, daily commodities for the crew astronauts as well as experimental devices, samples, spare parts, and other research items for the ISS. The other is to respond to broader launch needs by making combined use of both H-IIA and H-IIB launch vehicles. In addition, H-IIB’s larger launch capacity will make it possible to perform a simultaneous launch of more than one satellite, and will reduce the cost. This will contribute to ensuring vitalization of the Japanese space industry.
