The first launch of the Space One Kairos rocket ended in failure, with the vehicle exploding seconds after clearing the tower in Wakayama Prefecture. It’s a setback for Japan’s space sector, which is trying to become more competitive in a booming aerospace industry but where commercial ventures rarely succeed on their first try.
Tokyo-based Space One will have to wait a while before it can become the first Japanese company to put a satellite into orbit. The 59-foot (18-meter) rocket launched from the Space-1 launch pad at Kii Space Port at 10:01 p.m. ET on Tuesday, March 12 (11:01 a.m. on Wednesday, March 13, Japan time) Lifts off and explodes within five seconds of launch. Maiden voyage. Video of the failed launch shows a huge fireball and smoke appearing against a picturesque backdrop, with debris falling onto the mountainous forested terrain below.
As reported by the Associated Press ReportThere were no casualties in the accident and the fire was quickly brought under control.
The mission of this light launch vehicle is to deploy an experimental satellite for the Japanese Government’s Cabinet Satellite Intelligence Center.The Associated Press said the satellite’s main mission is to monitor North Korea’s military installations, according to Reuters notesit is also intended to serve as a temporary replacement for any intelligence satellites that may go offline.
The Kairos’ automatic self-destruct system activated within five seconds of launch, for reasons that remain unclear. Company President Masakazu Toyoda said: “The rocket terminated its flight after judging that it was difficult to complete the mission.” Tell reporter. Highly automated launch systems may detect anomalies in flight trajectory, speed, or control systems that could jeopardize the safety of those on the ground.
This is a setback for Japan’s space aspirations as it strives to keep pace with the United States and China in a new space race. Despite being a smaller competitor, Japanese rocket developers are looking to develop more cost-effective launch vehicles. This effort is designed to meet the growing demand for satellite launches from the Japanese government and international customers.The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has also experienced delays, but recently roll out it is new H3 rocket second attempt.
Space One was founded in July 2018 to aggressively compete with major players such as SpaceX and Rocket Lab. In this competitive landscape, Kairos has shown potential with its very similar model to Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket, which has flown 41 successful missions to date.
this Three-stage Kairos rocketEquipped with a solid-fuel engine and a liquid-fueled rear boost stage, it is designed to deliver payloads of up to 550 pounds (250 kilograms) to low Earth orbit. The company, backed by investments from Canon Electronics, IHI Aerospace, Shimizu Corp. and the Development Bank of Japan (among many other banks), aims to launch 30 rockets per year by the 2030s. according to Kyodo News.As CNBC ReportShares of Canon Electronics fell nearly 13% earlier today, likely in investor reaction to the launch failure.
Investor jitters aside, it’s extremely rare for a company to launch a satellite into orbit for the first time. Toyoda told reporters the company was “taking a positive approach to what happened” and stressed the importance of “new data and experience” in achieving success. Space One is currently investigating the incident.
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