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  JAXA H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV) fairing segments

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Author Topic:   JAXA H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV) fairing segments
Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 50870
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 04-02-2013 03:47 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Japanese plastic model maker Aoshima recently released the eighth kit in their Space Craft Series, a 1:350 scale H-IIB Launch Vehicle and Movable Launcher.

Of particular interest to space hardware collectors, the kit includes a cut piece from the recovered H-IIB fairing that was used during the launch of HTV-2 "Kounotori 2" to the International Space Station on Jan. 22, 2011. From the text on the side of the model kit box:

This is a luxurious kit of H-IIB Rocket with Movable Launcher (ML), which has the highest launching performance in Japan. Moreover, the real fairing panel of HTV-2, which was launch in January of 2011, was cut into tiny pieces and put in the kit as a piece of special bonus. It's a very precious collector's item with which you can enjoy the romance of space development.

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 50870
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 07-30-2015 10:44 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
If you passed on ordering Aoshima's model with its included piece of HTV-2 fairing but still desire to own a part of a JAXA space station cargo vehicle launch, segments of the HTV-3 fairing are now available on their own through the Japanese store Village Vanguard. RocketNews24 describes:
For only 500 yen (US$4.05), you can now purchase legitimate fragments of a Japan-launched rocket being sold under the moniker uchuu gacha ("space capsules"). In fact, it's such a good deal that we just had to buy one for ourselves!

...an actual piece of the H-IIB (pronounced H2B) Vehicle No. 3, launched on July 21, 2012 from Tanegashima, an island located in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.

The fairing piece is made of aluminum alloy and comes encased in a plastic capsule (the "gacha"). Perhaps most exciting, it's matched with a certificate of authenticity and serial number verified by JAXA, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.

Unfortunately, as best I can tell, Village Vanguard only allows orders from customers in Japan (or at least their registration system is limited to Japanese prefectures).

JBoe
Member

Posts: 994
From: Edgewater, MD
Registered: Oct 2012

posted 08-01-2015 05:06 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for JBoe   Click Here to Email JBoe     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I've attempted to make contact with several of the Japanese merchants who are selling the fairings. Unfortunately, Village Vanguard does not allow an order because it doesn't accommodate U.S. addresses even as a gift purchase.

Although, I've been in contact with tokyouchu.com in possibly purchasing the fairing. They referred me to Miraikan National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation. However, I contacted Miraikan's gift shop via phone call. The language barrier and not being able to do an online order prevents one from this purchase.

If any cS'er is able to speak Japanese or currently residing in Japan they will be more successful. With that I would like to make contact with you and possible work together in buying a fairing! Thanks in advance!

phivosh
Member

Posts: 52
From: Nicosia, Cyprus
Registered: Sep 2015

posted 07-27-2023 03:51 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for phivosh   Click Here to Email phivosh     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Looking through my stuff, I discovered I have a few of these, unopened in their white capsule with sticker. If anyone wants one of these let me know.

JBoe
Member

Posts: 994
From: Edgewater, MD
Registered: Oct 2012

posted 07-27-2023 04:57 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for JBoe   Click Here to Email JBoe     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by phivosh:
Looking through my stuff, I discovered I have a few of these, unopened in their white capsule with sticker. If anyone wants one of these let me know.

Sent you an email! Thanks!

jacobsaunders
Member

Posts: 32
From: United States
Registered: Feb 2021

posted 08-14-2023 07:04 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for jacobsaunders   Click Here to Email jacobsaunders     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Does anyone know how these fairings were recovered? Were they scooped out of the ocean? I thought SpaceX was first in recovering fairings after launch for reuse. I can't find a ton of information on the H-IIB launch sequence other than that the payload fairings are jettisoned after the SRBs, just before MECO.

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 50870
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 08-14-2023 07:20 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Kawasaki, the company that produced the fairings for the H-IIB, explains:
Payload fairings that separate from launch vehicles and land in the sea do not submerge but float because of the hollows in their honeycomb structure. In Japan, to avoid floating payload fairings from hindering the navigation of ships, they are recovered by ships after lift-off.
The company further notes that because the cost of recovery is high and recovery depends on the weather conditions, payload fairings are now required in Japan to sink.

The H-IIB fairings that have been recovered have typically broken apart to some degree. SpaceX added parachutes to its fairings so they land intact.

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