Japanese quake delayed tests on space station rocket [Spaceflight Now]
H-IIB3号機打ち上げはやはり来年6月にずれ込むようです。
The launch of Japan's next space station resupply craft will likely be rescheduled for next June, giving engineers time to make up testing of the freighter's H-2B rocket after the deadly earthquake in March, according to NASA and Japanese space officials.
Miwada said the H-2B rocket, which consists of two liquid-fueled stages and four solid rocket boosters, is almost complete at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. in Nagoya.
"The big earthquake in March affected the manufacturing and test schedule by several weeks, but the related manufacturers as well as JAXA engineers did tough work to recover the schedule," Miwada said.
According to Miwada, a delay in the launch of HTV 3 beyond April 1 would need to be addressed within the next Japanese government budget. The Japanese fiscal year begins April 1.
"A new schedule requires coordination of budget postponement, and we need some time," Miwada said.
HTV「こうのとり」機体は既に種子島宇宙センターに搬入されていますがH-IIB機体は愛知県の工場。だいたい出来てるそうですけどやっぱ試験設備やられたのは響きましたね。
あと来年はSpaceX社のドラゴン、オービタル・サイエンス社のシグナスが控えています。「こうのとり」と同じポートを使用するのでスケジュール調整がまた大変そうですね。シグナスは年明けの試験飛行を挟んでから来年中頃に初のドッキングを予定しているっぽいですが、ドラゴンは計画を圧縮して次の飛行でISSへのドッキングを予定しています。
