Launch Vehicles

H-IIB

Japan

Citation Formats

General Reference

Space and Astronomy Atlas. "H-IIB." Accessed September 1, 2026. https://dev-space.interactiveatlas.org/launch-vehicles/h-iib.

APA Style

Space and Astronomy Atlas. (n.d.). H-IIB. Retrieved September 1, 2026, from https://dev-space.interactiveatlas.org/launch-vehicles/h-iib

BibTeX

@misc{spaceandastronomyatlas-h-iib,
  author = {Space and Astronomy Atlas},
  title = {H-IIB},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://dev-space.interactiveatlas.org/launch-vehicles/h-iib},
  note = {Accessed September 1, 2026}
}

An enlarged, twin-engine derivative of the H-IIA developed specifically to launch Japan's H-II Transfer Vehicle cargo craft to the International Space Station, flying with a perfect success record across nine missions before its retirement.

Facts

Vehicle Class

Heavy-lift expendable cargo launch vehicle 1

Manufacturer

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries 1

First Flight Date

2009-09-10 1

Status

Retired in 2020 after nine consecutive successful flights, succeeded by the H3 launching the newer HTV-X cargo craft. 1

Cross-Tradition Connections

Operated By

JAXA

Source Encyclopedia Astronautica

Part Of

H-IIA

An enlarged, twin-first-stage-engine derivative of the H-IIA.

Source Encyclopedia Astronautica

Sources

1. Encyclopedia Astronautica

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