SS-520-4 launch Jan 14th; smallest orbital rocket ever

[magnemoe]

31 minutes ago, Scotius said:

Too bad I wanted to see this midget reach space. I mean, it is seriously tiny for an orbital launcher. Better luck next time

Yes, it looks like an surface to air missile to me. 
Does not look like it would be much problem dropping it from an fighter jet either. 

[Kryten]

http://asia.nikkei.com/Tech-Science/Tech/Japan-s-space-agency-to-try-again-with-minirocket-launch-in-2017

At least one more launch is now planned, and could take place before the end of the year. This report also gives us the price of a single launch; about $3-4 million. Cheapest launcher on the planet, but not by all that much...

Edited February 13, 2017 by Kryten

[kerbiloid]

I'm very much impressed by its launch sequence.
It's extremely, absolutely Kerbal.

(From: https://geektimes.ru/post/284980/)

Rocket launch mass is 2.6 t, initial T/W = 5.6.
The launch ramp sets the required heading and ascent angles.

T+0
The rocket starts.
The 1st stage works unguided, with no pitch/yaw correction, just rotates due to the tail fins for stabilization.

T+31.
The rocket reaches 26 km and 2 km/s.
1st stage gets off, but stays not separated.

T+67.
The rocket climbs up to 81 km with no thrust.
Nose shroud decouples.
A second later - the 1st stage separation.
The rocket continues climbing without thrust.

T+79
97 km.
Auxilliary orientation block enabled. (5.7 l of compessed N2).
Its nozzles perturbate the rocket rotation and cause precession.

T+107
Orientation block out of gas.
Rocket still climbs with no thrust.

T+147
The precession has put the rocket into horizontal position.
Orientation block separation.

T+157
An officer in control center questroom decides if continue this quest,

T+164
The officer sends command "Ok, we continue."

T+180.
179 km, 1 km/s
2nd stage ignition. (1.7 m long, 325 kg of fuel).
Rocket lays horizontally! As we did in early versions of KSP!

T+204.4
2nd stage is out of fuel.
3.6 km/s

T+235
2nd stage separation.

T+238
3rd stage ignition (0.8 m, 78 kg of fuel)
It accelerates from 3.6 to 8.1 km/s.

T+4.xx min
Satellite (3 kg, cubesat with 6 cameras) is on orbit (180x1500 km).

No piloting system, all stages are stabilized by rotation.
No full-featured navigation system, only a GPS-chip.

P.S.
Probably, next step will be a group launch from a multiple launch rocket system.

Edited February 13, 2017 by kerbiloid

[Kerbal01]

Next vehicle is being built, launch in Autumn 

 

[magnemoe]

8 hours ago, kerbiloid said:

I'm very much impressed by its launch sequence.
It's extremely, absolutely Kerbal.

(From: https://geektimes.ru/post/284980/)

Rocket launch mass is 2.6 t, initial T/W = 5.6.
The launch ramp sets the required heading and ascent angles.

T+0
The rocket starts.
The 1st stage works unguided, with no pitch/yaw correction, just rotates due to the tail fins for stabilization.

T+31.
The rocket reaches 26 km and 2 km/s.
1st stage gets off, but stays not separated.

T+67.
The rocket climbs up to 81 km with no thrust.
Nose shroud decouples.
A second later - the 1st stage separation.
The rocket continues climbing without thrust.

T+79
97 km.
Auxilliary orientation block enabled. (5.7 l of compessed N2).
Its nozzles perturbate the rocket rotation and cause precession.

T+107
Orientation block out of gas.
Rocket still climbs with no thrust.

T+147
The precession has put the rocket into horizontal position.
Orientation block separation.

T+157
An officer in control center questroom decides if continue this quest,

T+164
The officer sends command "Ok, we continue."

T+180.
179 km, 1 km/s
2nd stage ignition. (1.7 m long, 325 kg of fuel).
Rocket lays horizontally! As we did in early versions of KSP!

T+204.4
2nd stage is out of fuel.
3.6 km/s

T+235
2nd stage separation.

T+238
3rd stage ignition (0.8 m, 78 kg of fuel)
It accelerates from 3.6 to 8.1 km/s.

T+4.xx min
Satellite (3 kg, cubesat with 6 cameras) is on orbit (180x1500 km).

No piloting system, all stages are stabilized by rotation.
No full-featured navigation system, only a GPS-chip.

P.S.
Probably, next step will be a group launch from a multiple launch rocket system.

Very kerbal
Why wait so long with second stage?
get the cruise with first stage for stability but would it not be better to use second stage together with the control block around T-70 yes it would complicate stuff a bit

[kerbiloid]

3 hours ago, magnemoe said:

Why wait so long with second stage?

As we can see, its total sequence takes twice less time than usual (4+ vs 9+ min), so its flight profile looks like this _{(the same source)}:

Spoiler

And they wait 2.5 min between the vertical acceleration and the horizontal one, to leave the atmosphere.

Edited February 14, 2017 by kerbiloid

[magnemoe]

Yes, thinking about it it look like they first drop first stage, then point the rocket in correct direction and fire second. 
This can not be done in atmosphere, you can however run second stage and adjust trajectory with it. 

[YNM]

Wow, that sequence sounds soo kerbal

But I think I can see why. It has massive T/W compared to most, if not all, other orbital rockets. If initial T/W is >5 what about near completion... Also, I suppose the rocket is only guided by some gyroscopic means or so (ie. rotation), not RCS or CMGs (or nozzles or vernier means. probably venting).

Edited February 15, 2017 by YNM