Japan’s private space company, Space One, faced a major setback on Wednesday as the second flight of its Kairos small rocket was terminated mid-flight. The 18-meter solid-propellant rocket lifted off from Spaceport Kii in Wakayama Prefecture at 11:00 a.m. but quickly lost trajectory stability, prompting the termination of the mission after just 10 minutes. The rocket, carrying five small satellites—including one from Taiwan’s space agency—was heading for sun-synchronous orbit approximately 500 kilometers above Earth’s surface.
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Space One attributed the termination to “difficulty in achieving the mission” but has not yet disclosed specific technical details. A press conference is scheduled for later Wednesday to provide more insights.
String of Failures in Japanese Rocket Development
This failure is the second in nine months for the Kairos program. In March, the first Kairos rocket exploded just five seconds after liftoff due to inappropriate flight settings that triggered its autonomous self-destruct system. Despite these setbacks, no hardware issues were identified during the first incident, and Space One had implemented adjustments for this latest attempt.
Japan’s broader space sector has also encountered difficulties. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) delayed the debut flight of its Epsilon S solid-fuel rocket after two consecutive engine combustion test failures. Similarly, JAXA’s larger H3 rocket failed its inaugural launch in March 2023, though it has since completed three successful missions.
Race to Lead Asia’s Space Industry
Space One’s struggles come at a pivotal time for Japan’s space ambitions. The government is targeting 30 annual rocket launches by the early 2030s, aiming to transform Japan into Asia’s hub for space transportation. The nation envisions a $52 billion space industry, driven by public-private partnerships and innovative startups.
Established in 2018, Space One is backed by major Japanese companies, including Canon Electronics, IHI’s aerospace unit, construction giant Shimizu, and state-backed banks. The company aims to conduct 20 launches annually by 2029, offering cost-effective and frequent satellite transportation services.
Despite these ambitions, a lack of domestic launch options has forced Japanese startups like radar satellite maker iQPS and space debris mitigator Astroscale to rely on foreign providers like SpaceX and Rocket Lab.
Technical Challenges and Ongoing Investigations
During Wednesday’s launch, live footage showed the Kairos rocket losing stability shortly after liftoff. Initial analysis points to potential issues with the rocket’s first-stage engine nozzle or its control systems. The rocket did manage to reach an altitude of over 60 miles, technically entering space before self-destructing.
Space One President Masakazu Toyoda expressed regret over the incident but emphasized the importance of the data collected for future missions. “We don’t consider this a failure because we are gaining valuable insights,” he said.
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Japan’s efforts to rejuvenate its space industry face mounting challenges. Beyond Space One’s hurdles, the country’s established aerospace players, including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and IHI, are working to refine the H3 and Epsilon rockets to meet growing demand in the satellite market.