Japanese space startup aborts rocket launch minutes after liftoff
A Japanese space startup, Space One, aborted its second attempt to launch a rocket carrying satellites into orbit on Wednesday, minutes after liftoff. This comes nine months after its first launch attempt ended in an explosion.
The Kairos No. 2 rocket lifted off from a site in Wakayama prefecture, central Japan. However, the company concluded mid-flight that the mission was unlikely to succeed and aborted it. The exact cause of the failure is currently unknown, and further details are expected at a press conference later on Wednesday.
Space One aims to become Japan’s first private company to put a satellite into orbit, seeking to invigorate the country's lagging space industry with an affordable, small-rocket space transport business.
Wednesday's launch had been delayed twice due to strong winds and followed a failed debut flight in March, where the rocket was intentionally exploded five seconds after liftoff. That flight was carrying a government satellite meant to monitor North Korea’s missile activities.
The Kairos No. 2 rocket was carrying five small satellites, including one from Taiwan’s space agency and others from Japanese startups. Space One claimed to have resolved the cause of the first flight failure, which was linked to a miscalculation in the rocket’s first-stage propulsion.
Founded in 2018, Tokyo-based Space One has backing from major Japanese companies like Canon Electronics, IHI, Shimizu, and several banks. The company aims to offer up to 20 space delivery flights annually at reduced costs, compared to the six currently planned by Japan's government-led space program.
Japan’s space development is primarily led by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and major industry players like Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Their flagship rockets include the large H3 and the smaller Epsilon, both catering to the expanding satellite transport market.