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▼ Japan Private Rocket Explodes Just After Launch
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A rocket made by a Japanese company exploded just after launch on Wednesday (Mar 13), with public broadcaster NHK showing footage of the fiery failure.
Tokyo-based startup Space One had been aiming to become the first Japanese private firm to successfully place a satellite into orbit.
Its 18m solid-fuel Kairos rocket blasted off from the startup's own launch pad in Wakayama prefecture in western Japan, carrying a small government test satellite.
But around five seconds later, the solid-fuel rocket erupted in fire, sending white smoke billowing around the remote mountainous area as orange flames raged on the ground, live footage showed.
Burning debris fell onto the surrounding slopes as sprinklers began spraying water in dramatic scenes watched by hundreds of spectators gathered at public viewing areas including a nearby waterfront.
"I had high hopes for this, so I'm disappointed. I want to know what happened," one elderly man told public broadcaster NHK.
"The launch of the first Kairos rocket was executed, but we took a measure to abort the flight," Space One said in a statement, adding that "details are being investigated".
It also said the flight was "interrupted" after the launch.
Pads typically have no people anywhere nearby during a launch. Space One has said the launch is highly automated and requires roughly a dozen staff at the ground control centre.
Shuhei Kishimoto, governor of the local Wakayama government, told reporters after being briefed by Space One that a problem triggered the autonomous flight-termination system. He did not specify what the problem was.
There were no injuries near the launch pad, and the fire has been extinguished, Kishimoto added.
Parts shortages and other problems had reportedly led Space One to postpone the launch of Kairos five times before Wednesday's attempt, most recently on Saturday.
The mayor of Kushimoto, the town of 15,000 residents in Wakayama where the failed launch took place, voiced his surprise and disappointment.
"I didn't even imagine an outcome like this," Katsumasa Tashima told reporters shortly after the explosion.
But the town "will continue to support Space One, and we want to continue to offer our help so that the first rocket will have a successful launch", he said.
Tokyo-based Space One was established in 2018 by a consortium of Japanese companies: Canon Electronics, the aerospace engineering unit of IHI, construction firm Shimizu and the state-backed Development Bank of Japan. Two of Japan's biggest banks, Mitsubishi UFJ and Mizuho, also own minority stakes.
Shares in Canon Electronics fell as much as 13 per cent, while IHI shares were down as much as 2 per cent after Wednesday's failed launch.
The failure marks a blow to Japan's efforts to enter the potentially lucrative satellite-launch market.
The government wants to assess if it can quickly launch temporary, small satellites when and if its existing spy satellites malfunction.
It had been hoped Kairos would put the satellite into orbit around 51 minutes after the launch.
Last July another Japanese rocket engine exploded during a test around 50 seconds after ignition.
The solid-fuel Epsilon S was an improved version of the Epsilon rocket that had failed to launch the previous October.
Its testing site in the northern prefecture of Akita was engulfed in flames and a huge plume of grey smoke rose into the sky.
The malfunction came after Tokyo in March 2023 had seen its second attempt to launch its next-generation H3 rocket fail after liftoff.
Last month, though, Japan's space agency toasted a successful blast-off for its new flagship rocket, the H3, after years of delays and two previous failed attempts.
The H3 launched from the Tanegashima Space Center in southwestern Japan, sparking cheers and applause at JAXA control centre.
It has been mooted as a rival to SpaceX's Falcon 9, and could one day deliver cargo to bases on the Moon.
That followed Japan's successful landing in January 2024 of an unmanned probe on the Moon - albeit at a wonky angle - making it just the fifth country to achieve a "soft landing" on the lunar surface.
Tokyo-based startup Space One had been aiming to become the first Japanese private firm to successfully place a satellite into orbit.
Its 18m solid-fuel Kairos rocket blasted off from the startup's own launch pad in Wakayama prefecture in western Japan, carrying a small government test satellite.
But around five seconds later, the solid-fuel rocket erupted in fire, sending white smoke billowing around the remote mountainous area as orange flames raged on the ground, live footage showed.
Burning debris fell onto the surrounding slopes as sprinklers began spraying water in dramatic scenes watched by hundreds of spectators gathered at public viewing areas including a nearby waterfront.
"I had high hopes for this, so I'm disappointed. I want to know what happened," one elderly man told public broadcaster NHK.
"The launch of the first Kairos rocket was executed, but we took a measure to abort the flight," Space One said in a statement, adding that "details are being investigated".
It also said the flight was "interrupted" after the launch.
Pads typically have no people anywhere nearby during a launch. Space One has said the launch is highly automated and requires roughly a dozen staff at the ground control centre.
Shuhei Kishimoto, governor of the local Wakayama government, told reporters after being briefed by Space One that a problem triggered the autonomous flight-termination system. He did not specify what the problem was.
There were no injuries near the launch pad, and the fire has been extinguished, Kishimoto added.
Parts shortages and other problems had reportedly led Space One to postpone the launch of Kairos five times before Wednesday's attempt, most recently on Saturday.
"DIDN'T EVEN IMAGINE"
The mayor of Kushimoto, the town of 15,000 residents in Wakayama where the failed launch took place, voiced his surprise and disappointment.
"I didn't even imagine an outcome like this," Katsumasa Tashima told reporters shortly after the explosion.
But the town "will continue to support Space One, and we want to continue to offer our help so that the first rocket will have a successful launch", he said.
Tokyo-based Space One was established in 2018 by a consortium of Japanese companies: Canon Electronics, the aerospace engineering unit of IHI, construction firm Shimizu and the state-backed Development Bank of Japan. Two of Japan's biggest banks, Mitsubishi UFJ and Mizuho, also own minority stakes.
Shares in Canon Electronics fell as much as 13 per cent, while IHI shares were down as much as 2 per cent after Wednesday's failed launch.
The failure marks a blow to Japan's efforts to enter the potentially lucrative satellite-launch market.
The government wants to assess if it can quickly launch temporary, small satellites when and if its existing spy satellites malfunction.
It had been hoped Kairos would put the satellite into orbit around 51 minutes after the launch.
Last July another Japanese rocket engine exploded during a test around 50 seconds after ignition.
The solid-fuel Epsilon S was an improved version of the Epsilon rocket that had failed to launch the previous October.
Its testing site in the northern prefecture of Akita was engulfed in flames and a huge plume of grey smoke rose into the sky.
The malfunction came after Tokyo in March 2023 had seen its second attempt to launch its next-generation H3 rocket fail after liftoff.
Last month, though, Japan's space agency toasted a successful blast-off for its new flagship rocket, the H3, after years of delays and two previous failed attempts.
The H3 launched from the Tanegashima Space Center in southwestern Japan, sparking cheers and applause at JAXA control centre.
It has been mooted as a rival to SpaceX's Falcon 9, and could one day deliver cargo to bases on the Moon.
That followed Japan's successful landing in January 2024 of an unmanned probe on the Moon - albeit at a wonky angle - making it just the fifth country to achieve a "soft landing" on the lunar surface.
- 13/3 20:22
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