Japan’s private space company Space One has failed its second attempt to launch a commercial satellite into space with its Kairos rocket, just minutes after liftoff. The rocket self-destructed about three minutes into the flight due to abnormalities in the first-stage engine nozzle control and the rocket’s trajectory.
The cause of the failure remains unclear, but it’s not the first time Space One has faced setbacks in its development. In March, the company experienced a similar issue with its debut flight, where an inappropriate flight setting triggered the autonomous self-destruct system despite no issues found in the hardware.
Space One is working towards launching 20 small rockets a year by 2029 to capture growing satellite launch demand. The company’s mission includes launching satellites from various countries, including Taiwan, which had one of its satellites on board the failed launch.
The Japanese government aims for Japan to become Asia’s space hub with 30 rocket launches annually and an 8 trillion yen space industry by the early 2030s. However, recent setbacks have raised concerns about the country’s progress in achieving this goal.
Space One’s failure is part of a broader issue affecting Japan’s domestic launch options. The country is struggling to develop its own rockets due to a lack of funding and expertise, prompting companies like iQPS and Astroscale to look to commercial providers like SpaceX or Rocket Lab for launches.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/japans-space-one-says-kairos-rocket-flight-terminated-after-liftoff-2024-12-18