H IIa

Medium-lift launch vehicle

The H-IIA launch vehicle No. 1 rocket was successfully launched in 2001. The rocket is a two-stage launch vehicle powered mainly by the first and second stages. The engines serve as high performance propulsion system utilizing liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellants. Standing 53 meters tall, the standard H-IIA, dubbed H2A202, has a 4-meters diameter payload fairing and two strap-on solid rocket boosters (SRB-As). The boosters are used to provide extra thrust as the rocket accelerates through the atmosphere.