A Japanese space startup’s attempt to launch a rocket carrying satellites into orbit was aborted just minutes after liftoff on Wednesday. This marked Tokyo-based Space One’s second attempt to launch its Kairos small rocket, following a failed first try nine months ago that ended in an explosion.
The Kairos No. 2 rocket launched from a site in Wakayama, a mountainous prefecture in central Japan. The flight lasted approximately 10 minutes before Space One announced that the mission was deemed unachievable. The company cited the difficulty of completing the mission, though the exact cause of the failure remains unclear.
Social media footage captured the 18-meter (59-foot) solid-propellant rocket taking off from Spaceport Kii in western Japan at 11:00 a.m. local time. However, soon after liftoff, the rocket appeared to lose stability in its trajectory as it ascended.
The rocket carried up to five small satellites, including one from the Taiwan Space Agency, with plans to place them into sun-synchronous orbit about 500 kilometers above Earth’s surface.
Space One is currently investigating the incident and plans to hold a press conference at 2:00 p.m. local time.
The company aims to become the first Japanese firm to successfully send a satellite into orbit, a milestone that could help boost Japan’s space industry, which has long lagged behind global leaders. However, Space One’s debut flight in March, which carried a government satellite intended to monitor North Korea’s missile activities and other military threats, ended in an explosion just five seconds after launch. At the time, the company attributed the failure to incorrect flight settings, which triggered the rocket’s self-destruct system, despite no hardware issues being found. Space One has since addressed these issues.
Founded in 2018 by Canon Electronics, IHI’s aerospace division, construction firm Shimizu, and a state-backed bank, Space One aims to launch 20 small rockets annually by 2029 to meet growing demand for satellite launches. Japan hopes the company will lay the foundation for a competitive domestic space industry to rival the United States and other space pioneers.
