What's New
A Japanese space startup announced that its second attempt to launch a rocket carrying satellites into orbit was aborted just minutes after liftoff on Wednesday. The rocket self-destructed, marking the company's second failure in nine months, following an explosion during its first launch attempt.
Space One's Kairos No. 2 rocket launched from a coastal site in Wakayama Prefecture, a mountainous region in central Japan.
Why It Matters
Startup Space One is striving to become Japan's first private company to successfully place a satellite into orbit. The firm aims to revitalize Japan's lagging space industry with a focus on small rockets designed for affordable space transport services.
Japan has high hopes for Space One's efforts to establish a competitive domestic space industry, positioning the nation to rival the United States in the rapidly growing space sector.
What to Know
The company stated that the flight was aborted mid-launch after determining it was unlikely to successfully complete its mission.
The Kairos No. 2 rocket managed to rise over 60 miles above the ground, officially entering space before it was destroyed, company officials confirmed. The rocket spiraled mid-flight before activating its autonomous safety mechanism, destroying itself approximately three minutes after liftoff.
The rocket was carrying five small satellites, including one from the Taiwanese space agency and several others developed by Japanese startups. Space One stated that it had addressed the issue that caused the failure of its debut flight, attributing it to a miscalculation in the rocket's first-stage propulsion.
Tokyo-based Space One, established in 2018, was launched with investments from prominent Japanese companies including Canon Electronics, IHI, Shimizu, and several major banks.
Wednesday's flight, which had been delayed twice since Saturday due to strong winds, came nine months after the Kairos No. 1 rocket's failed debut in March. That attempt ended when the rocket was intentionally destroyed just five seconds after liftoff. The first flight had been carrying a government satellite designed to monitor North Korea's missile launches and other military activities.
While Japan possesses an advanced space program, other recent efforts to launch rockets into space have also failed, with the engine for Japan's flagship small rocket, the Epsilon S, exploding during a combustion test last month, marking the second consecutive failure in its development.
Nevertheless, Space One aims to commercialize space delivery services by offering lower costs and more frequent flights, targeting as many as 20 launches annually. This ambitious goal significantly exceeds the six launches currently planned by Japan's government-led space program.
What People Are Saying
Space One President Masakazu Toyoda told a news conference Wednesday: "We are very sorry that we could not achieve as far as a final stage of the mission," he said. "We don't consider this a failure because we are getting valuable data that will help our pursuit toward a next challenge."
Company executive and space engineer Mamoru Endo explained that an abnormality in the first-stage engine nozzle or its control system likely caused the rocket to become unstable.
What Happens Next
Japan's space development efforts are spearheaded by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency alongside major industry players such as Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and IHI.
These organizations are focused on developing two flagship rockets: the large-scale H3 rocket and the smaller Epsilon rocket, both designed to meet the demands of the expanding satellite transport industry.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press
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