Verification of the operation of the two-stage parachute release mechanism and acquisition of the parachute opening shock data
Hokkaido, Japan, March 2024 – Taiki Town Office and SPACE COTAN Co., Ltd., which jointly develop and operate “Hokkaido Spaceport”(hereinafter referred to as “HOSPO”), a commercial spaceport open to the private sector in Asia, announced that Tokai University students has successfully conducted a hybrid rocket launch experiment at Taiki, Hokkaido.
Tokai University students developing a rocket for launch into space.
In this experiment, the two-stage parachute release mechanism was demonstrated to recover the launched vehicle without damage, and data of the parachute opening shock was acquired.
Tokai University has been conducting experiments in Taiki since 2004, and this was the 29th rocket launch experiments.
《Experiment Summary》
Objective: Verification of the operation of the two-stage parachute system and acquisition of the parachute opening shock data
Experiment day: March 6, 2024Experiment location: Taiki-cho, Hiroo-gun, HokkaidoExperiment overview：The rocket reached an altitude of 456 meters and fell 493 meters north-northeast of the launch site. The two-stage parachute release mechanism was demonstrated, and data of the parachute opening shock was acquired.
《About Rocket》
Name : Hybrid Rocket No.59
Fuel : Solid wax
Oxidizer : Liquefied nitrous oxide(N2O).
Length : 1.7m
Diameter : 154mm
Dry weight :14kg
Hokkaido Spaceport supporting aerospace experiments by private sector, universities, government.
A number of aerospace-related experiments have been conducted in Taiki Town using HOSPO’s 1,000-meter runway and rocket launch site, etc. In 2023, Interstellar Technologies, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Innovative Space Carrier, the University of Electro-Communications, Muroran Institute of Technology, and other organizations conducted a total of 40 experiments, including rocket engine firing tests, scientific ballooning, and unmanned aerial vehicles.
HOSPO’s runway will be extended to 1,300 meters in 2024, making it possible to conduct more experiments than ever before. In addition, construction of the LC-1 (Launch Complex-1), a new orbital launch site that can also be used by the private sector, is underway to improve the environment for various aerospace experiments, including rocket launches.
About Tokai University Student Rocket Project
Representative : Moe Yatagai, Project manager
Location : 4-1-1 Kitakaname, Hiratsuka-shi, Kanagawa
Overview : Tokai University Student Rocket Project was launched in 1995 with the aim of training students to become space engineers. The project has been conducting experiments in Taiki since 2004, and this was the 29th rocket launch experiments.
WEB : http://deka.challe.u-tokai.ac.jp/srp/About_TSRP/About_TSRP.html
About Taiki Town Office
Representative : Mayor Yutaka Kurokawa
Location : 33, Higashi-Hondori, Taiki-machi, Hiroo-gun, Hokkaido
Overview : A town with a population of 5,400 where agriculture, fishing, and forestry are the core industries. The town began attracting aerospace experiments in 1985, and has been promoting the development of a space city for about 40 years since then. Hokkaido Spaceport was opened in 2021 as the global commercial spaceport in Taiki Town. The goal is to create an aerospace industry cluster and ecosystem with Hokkaido Spaceport as its core.
WEB : https://www.town.taiki.hokkaido.jp/
About SPACE COTAN Co., Ltd.
Representative : Yoshinori ODAGIRI, President and CEO
Location : 98 Nishihondori, Taiki-machi, Hiroo-gun, Hokkaido
Business Overview : Overall promotion of HOSPO project based on mandate from the Taiki town, and operation of HOSPO.
WEB : https://hokkaidospaceport.com
About Hokkaido Spaceport(HOSPO)
HOSPO is a commercial spaceport open to the private sector in Asia, that was launched in April 2021 in Taiki, Japan. Taiki Town has been attracting the aerospace industry for about 40 years, and is said to be one of the most suitable locations for a world-class spaceport due to its geographical advantages, such as an expansive sea to the east and south for launching rockets, and a large land area that allows for high expansion of the launch site. The suborbital launch site “LC-0” is already in operation, and private rockets have reached space three times in the past.
To realize our vision of “creating an aerospace industry cluster and ecosystem”, we are developing new launch and test sites for rockets and space planes, and contributing to the development of rockets and the space industry as an infrastructure. We aim to contribute to regional development and Japan’s economic revitalization.
We are currently working on a new orbital launch site “LC-1” and extending the runway to 1,300 meters.