NASDA HOPE-X [1990s]
Notes:
HOPE-X in orbit (1993). A major difference between the European Hermés program and HOPE was the Japanese favored a phased approach, first building a smaller unmanned version before doing a larger manned mini-shuttle. Thus, the early goal was to design a robotic spaceplane capable of transporting a few tonnes of unmanned cargo and experiments to the International Space Station. Another important mission (shown here) would be to fly independent missions with microgravity experiments in the spacecraft's small cargo bay.
This illustration shows a small pressurized module in the cargo bay, probably a Space Station resupply mission.
HOPE-X enters orbit. The Japanese regard a small H2-launched orbital spaceplane as the logical first step towards ultimately developing a fully reusable “aerospace plane.”
HOPE-X in 1996. The Japanese originally planned to develop separate version for initial technology tests and Space Station resupply. However, in 1997 the National Space Development Agency decided that the $830 million Hope-X unmanned experimental spaceplane might be modified for operational resupply flights to ISS, rather than build separate vehicles for testing and operations. The additional cost might be $292 million vs. $2.9 million for the full-scale 22t HOPE follow-on project. Budget constraints lated forced a $690 million reduction, to $4.22 billion, in the five-year spending period 1998-2002. In 1998 The Japanese slipped the first Hope-X launch by three years, to 2003. By this time NASDA had spent $305 million since the project was approved ten years ago.
