Kairos, a small solid-fuel rocket manufactured by Japan’s Space One, suffered a catastrophic explosion just seconds into its maiden launch on Wednesday as the company aimed to become the first Japanese entity to deploy a satellite into orbit.
The setback for Space One and Japan’s rocket industry arrives amidst heightened support from the government and investors, driven by a national security buildup and surging demand for commercial satellites.
The 18-meter (59 ft) rocket disintegrated five seconds after liftoff, engulfing the launch site at the mountainous Kii peninsula in western Japan with smoke, fire, and debris, as seen on local media streams.
Company president Masakazu Toyoda stated, “The rocket terminated the flight after judging that the achievement of its mission would be difficult.” Space One did not specify the trigger for the self-destruction, nor did it indicate when the next launch attempt would occur, promising a thorough investigation into the explosion.
Toyoda emphasized that the highly automated launch process involves minimal ground staff and that the rocket is programmed to self-destruct upon detecting flight errors that could endanger lives on the ground.
“We don’t use the word ‘failure’ because each trial brings us…new data and experience for another challenge,” Toyoda remarked during a press conference.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported near the launch site, and the fire has been extinguished, according to Wakayama prefecture governor Shuhei Kishimoto.
The failed launch was intended to deploy an experimental government satellite capable of temporarily replacing intelligence satellites in orbit if they malfunction.
Despite Japan’s relatively modest stature in the space industry, its rocket developers are striving to construct cost-effective vehicles to meet the soaring demand for satellite launches, both domestically and internationally.
Established in 2018, Space One aims to provide “space courier services” to clients worldwide, with aspirations to launch 20 rockets annually by the late 2020s. Although the inaugural launch of Kairos faced multiple delays, the company reported fulfilling orders for its subsequent trips, including those from overseas customers.
Kairos, equipped with three stages of solid-fuel engines and a liquid-fuel post-boost stage engine, targets payloads of up to 250 kg into low-Earth orbit.
The failed launch saw shares in Canon Electronics plummet by as much as 13%, while IHI shares dipped by 2%.
The setback comes amid Japan’s collaborative efforts with the United States to rejuvenate its aerospace industry, aiming to counter technological and military adversaries such as China and Russia.
While challenges persist, Japan’s space sector remains resilient, buoyed by government support and a commitment to innovation in the face of adversity.
