Lambda is the name of a series of Japanese carrier rockets.[1] It consisted of the types Lambda 2,[2] LS-A, LSC-3,[3] Lambda 3,[4] Lambda 4[5] and LS-C, developed jointly by Institute of Industrial Science of University of Tokyo, Institute of Space and Astronautical Science of Tokyo University, and Prince Motor Company, which merged with Nissan in 1966.[6]
On February 11, 1970, the first Japanese satellite Ohsumi was launched using a Lambda 4 rocket.
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.[7]
The Lambda 4 was launched nine times, though five were failures.[5] The first launch of the Lambda 4S rocket took place on September 26, 1966, from Kagoshima.[8] A fourth-stage attitude control failed resulting in loss of the vehicle and payload.
Lambda rockets were launched by ISAS, from Kagoshima pad L:[1]
| 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 | Failure: Fourth stage attitude control failed |
| 1966 December 20 | Lambda 4S | 400 | 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 | 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 | 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 L-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 |