Kairos, a small solid-fuel rocket made by Japan’s Space One, exploded shortly after its inaugural launch on Wednesday as the firm attempted to become the first Japanese company to launch a satellite into orbit.
The 18-meter (59-foot) rocket exploded seconds after liftoff at 11:01 a.m. (02:01 GMT), leaving behind a large plume of smoke, fire, rocket debris and fire-fighting water sprays near the launch pad, visible on live local media.
Space One said it “terminated the flight” after liftoff at the tip of the mountainous Kii Peninsula in western Japan and was collecting flight data.
Shuhei Kishimoto, governor of the Wakayama local government, told reporters after Space One was notified that the problem was triggered by the autonomous flight termination system. He did not specify what the problem was. There were no injuries near the launch pad and the fire was extinguished, Kishimoto added.
Space One said the launch is highly automated, including a flight termination function, and requires about a dozen employees at the ground control center.
Kairos carried an experimental government satellite that can temporarily replace intelligence satellites in orbit if they go offline.
Space One had planned to launch on Saturday, but postponed it after the ship entered a nearby restricted marine area.
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Although Japan is a relatively small player in the space race, the nation’s rocket developers are scrambling to produce cheaper vehicles to capture growing demand for satellite launches from its government and global clients.
Tokyo-based Space One was founded in 2018 by a consortium of Japanese companies: Canon Electronics ( 7739.T ), opens a new tab, aerospace engineering unit IHI ( 7013.T ), opens a new tab , construction firm Shimizu ( 1803 ). T), will open a new card and the state-backed Development Bank of Japan. Two of Japan’s biggest banks, Mitsubishi UFJ ( 8306.T ) and Mizuho ( 8411.T ), also own minority stakes.
Shares of Canon Electronics fell as much as 13%, while shares of IHI fell as much as 2% after Wednesday’s shaky start.
1 out of 5 points Space One does not disclose the cost of the Kairos launch, but the company’s chief executive Kozo Abe said it is “competitive enough” against US rival Rocket Lab. via Kyodo
[1/5]Space One does not disclose Kairos launch costs, but the company’s chief executive Kozo Abe said it is “competitive enough” against US rival Rocket Lab. via Kyodo Purchase Licensing Rights, will open a new tab
Space One wants to offer “space courier services” to domestic and international clients with the goal of launching 20 rockets a year by the end of 2020, its president Masakazu Toyoda said. Although the company has delayed Kairos’ inaugural launch window four times, it said orders for its second and third planned trips have been filled, including from an overseas customer.
