Japan’s first private rocket faced a major setback when its maiden flight ended in disaster just five seconds after liftoff. Space One, a startup based in Tokyo, developed the 18-meter, 23-tonne Kairos rocket, which was equipped with a small government test satellite. The rocket was launched from Space Port Kii, Japan’s first commercial launch facility near Kushimoto, Wakayama Prefecture.
If the launch is successful, Space One will be Japan’s first private company to place a satellite into orbit. However, the launch faced delays, being postponed five times due to various issues, including product shortages. A radio broadcast showing the moment the rocket burst into flames led the company to deliberately disclaim responsibility.
The cause of the explosion is unknown, but it is thought to be caused by the system that autonomously interrupted the flight. The 100-kilogram intelligence satellite is intended to be a temporary backup to existing satellites in case of technical problems.
Founded in 2018, Space One aims to offer low-cost commercial launch services to governments and clients worldwide. The company plans to launch 20 rockets each year by the late 2020s and has set an ambitious goal of providing “space courier services” with the shortest time frame between order and launch.
Space One was established by a consortium of Japanese companies, including Canon Electronics, IHI Aerospace, construction firm Shimizu, and the government-owned Development Bank of Japan. Following the rocket launch failure, shares of Japan’s Canon Electronics plummeted 12.7% on Wednesday.
Despite the setback, the mayor of Kushimoto expressed his continued support for the rocket program, emphasizing its importance for the town’s development. The explosion sent blazing debris into the surrounding remote mountainous area, but no casualties were reported. Launch setbacks are not uncommon, as evidenced by a similar incident with the Japanese solid-fuel rocket Epsilon S in July of the previous year.