Japan’s space startup, Space One, has faced its second rocket failure in nine months. The company’s latest attempt to launch a rocket carrying satellites into orbit was aborted just minutes after liftoff on Wednesday due to a self-destruct mechanism activating to prevent further damage.
Space One aims to become Japan’s first private company to successfully place a satellite into orbit and revitalize the country’s lagging space industry with affordable space transport services. The firm has received significant investments from prominent Japanese companies, including Canon Electronics, IHI, Shimizu, and major banks.
The failure occurred during the launch of the Kairos No. 2 rocket from a coastal site in Wakayama Prefecture, which managed to reach an altitude of over 60 miles before it was destroyed. The incident has raised concerns about Japan’s space program, with previous attempts also experiencing failures.
Despite the setback, Space One’s President Masakazu Toyoda expressed optimism, saying that the company is gaining valuable data from its failed mission and will use this experience to improve its technology. The company aims to commercialize space delivery services by offering lower costs and more frequent flights, targeting up to 20 launches annually.
Japan’s space development efforts are led by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) alongside major industry players such as Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and IHI. These organizations are working on developing two flagship rockets: the H3 rocket and the Epsilon rocket, designed to meet the demands of the growing satellite transport industry.
Source: https://www.newsweek.com/japanese-space-startup-aborts-rocket-launch-minutes-after-liftoff-2002663