H-IIB (H2B) is an expendable launch system used to launch H-II Transfer Vehicles (HTV, or Kounotori) towards the International Space Station. H-IIB rockets are liquid-fuelled with solid-fuel strap-on boosters and are launched from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan. Mitsubishi and JAXA have been primarily responsible for design, manufacture, and operation of H-IIB.
facts
providerMitsubishi Heavy Industries
countryJPN
classmedium-lift launch vehicle
payload to LEOkg16,500
reusableno
first flight2009-09-10
flights total9
flights successful9
last flight2020-05-20
next flightunknown
statusretired
price per launchUSD112,500,000
payload to GTOkg8,000
heightm56.6
diameterm5.2
masskg551,000
crawled events
- notable2026-09-14iQPS books H3 rideshare launch with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
- notable2026-07-29ispace switches to Japan's H3 rocket for 2028 lunar lander mission
- notable2026-07-11JAXA and Mitsubishi Heavy fly RV-X reusable rocket testbed on first hop
- notable2026-06-12JAXA flies H3 in its boosterless 30 configuration with six satellites aboard
timeline
- 20202020-05-21JAXA flies H-IIB's ninth flight, launching Kounotori9as of 2026-07-12
- 20092009-09-11JAXA flies H-IIB's maiden flight, launching HTV Demonstration Flightas of 2026-07-12
sources
[1] ll.thespacedevs.com ↗
provider2026-07-05country2026-07-05payload to LEO (kg)2026-07-05reusable2026-07-05first flight2026-07-05flights total2026-07-05flights successful2026-07-05last flight2026-07-05status2026-07-05price per launch (USD)2026-07-05payload to GTO (kg)2026-07-10height (m)2026-07-10diameter (m)2026-07-10mass (kg)2026-07-10
[2] en.wikipedia.org ↗
classwikipedia2026-07-05
faq
Who builds H-IIB?
H-IIB is built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. as of 2026-07-05
How many times has H-IIB flown?
H-IIB has flown 9 times. as of 2026-07-05
When did H-IIB first fly?
H-IIB first flew on 2009-09-10. as of 2026-07-05
Is H-IIB reusable?
H-IIB is not reusable. as of 2026-07-05