#epsilon rocket

[spaceexp]

Successful launch of the Epsilon-5 with Innovative Satellites 2 onboard.

[uchusencompany]

Less than ideal... JAXA admits spyware siphoned off details of its next-gen $48m/pop small satellite launcher Epsilon*. Considering this rocket reuses the successful HIIA rocket as first stage, and the successful M-V design for the other two, it is highly unlikely the spyware was looking for the program manager's credit card details or trying to help sideload ringtones. Rather more likely one of Japan's neighbours looking for tried-and-tested designs to help undermine the commercial feasibility of the product. Considering JAXA is spending $1/4bn upgrading this successful technology, that's one expensive data breach and a sharp reminder industrial sabotage in aerospace is still a modus operandi in East Asia.

*Note that "small sat" is relative: Epsilon is supposed to be launching 1.3T sats into orbit, so not exactly microsat/nanosat territory.

(image credits: JAXA Epsilon Launch Vehicle pamphlet PDF)