Kairos, a solid-fuel launch vehicle built by Japanese private company Space One, exploded shortly after its first launch on Wednesday. The 18-metre rocket launched from the company’s launchpad in the Wakayama region of Western Japan while carrying a small government test satellite. The launch happened at 7.31 AM on Monday, but just seconds later, Kairos exploded and left behind clouds of smoke and fire. “The launch of the first Kairos rocket was executed, but we took a measure to abort the flight details are being investigated,” said a statement from Space One, according to The Guardian. The company that it terminated the flight after investigating flight data. Shuhei Kishimoto, governor of local Wakayama government, said that a problem was caused by the rocket’s autonomous flight-termination system, without specifying what the problem was. There were no injuries near the launchpad and the first was extinguished shortly after it started. JUST IN: Space One rocket in Japan explodes after takeoff during its “inaugural launch.” The Kairos rocket was attempting to make Space One the first Japanese company to put a satellite in orbit. (Reuters) The 59 ft, four-stage solid-fuel rocket was launched from the Kii… pic.twitter.com/BJAAWXGsCy — Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) March 13, 2024 The Tokyo-based startup was set up in 2018 by a group of Japanese companies that include Canon Electronics, construction major Shimizu and the Development Bank of Japan, which is a state bank, according to Reuters. The Mitsubishi UFJ financial group and the Mizuho group, two of the biggest banks in the country, also own stakes in the venture. Failures during rocket launches to space are fairly common, and they can happen to anyone. Elon Musk-led SpaceX is arguably the most successful private space technology company in history. It is currently working on Starship, which would become the biggest and most powerful rocket in history once operation. Starship exploded during both the test launches it had so far and the company is going for at least one other launch this year. Space One is hoping to tap into the burgeoning market for sending constellations of small satellites into space. “We will offer the world’s shortest lead time from contractual engagement to launch, as well as the world’s most frequent launching schedule. With our dedicated launcher and launch site, we will minimise the cost of putting satellites into orbit and help further expand space businesses,” says the company’s website.
