Japan’s Space One Kairos rocket explodes shortly after inaugural launch

TOKYO/ISLAMABAD: Japan’s Space One experienced a setback on Wednesday as its small Kairos rocket, fueled by solid propellant, exploded shortly after its maiden launch attempt. The company aimed to be the first Japanese entity to deploy a satellite into orbit.

The 18-meter (59 ft) Kairos rocket, equipped with four stages and solid fuel, erupted mere seconds after liftoff around 11:01 a.m. (0201 GMT). The explosion produced a sizable plume of smoke, a fire, rocket debris, and firefighting efforts near the launch site, as captured by local media livestreams from the mountainous Kii peninsula in western Japan.

Space One reported that the flight was “interrupted” post-launch and is currently investigating the incident. There is no immediate clarity on the cause of the explosion or any potential injuries.

Launch pads typically remain devoid of personnel during liftoffs. Space One has emphasized the high degree of automation involved in the launch process, with approximately a dozen staff members stationed at the ground control center.

The Kairos rocket was carrying an experimental government satellite designed to serve as a temporary replacement for intelligence satellites in case of operational failures.

Originally scheduled for Saturday, the launch was postponed due to the presence of a ship in the restricted sea area nearby.

Despite Japan’s relatively modest presence in the space sector, its rocket developers are striving to develop more cost-effective vehicles to cater to the growing demand for satellite launches, both domestically and internationally.

Established in 2018, Tokyo-based Space One is a consortium of Japanese companies, including Canon Electronics, IHI Aerospace Engineering, Shimizu Corporation, and the Development Bank of Japan. Major banks Mitsubishi UFJ and Mizuho also hold minority stakes in the company.

Following the failed launch, shares in Canon Electronics dropped over 9%.

Space One aims to provide “space courier services” to clients worldwide and plans to launch 20 rockets annually by the late 2020s, according to President Masakazu Toyoda. Despite delays in Kairos’ inaugural launch, the company has received orders for its subsequent missions, including from overseas clients.

While Space One does not disclose Kairos’ launch costs, company executive Kozo Abe asserted that they are competitive compared to American rival Rocket Lab.

Rocket Lab, known for its Electron small rockets, has conducted over 40 launches from New Zealand since 2017, with each flight costing around $7 million. Japanese companies, such as iQPS and Synspective, have utilized Rocket Lab’s services for their missions.

Last month, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) successfully launched its new cost-efficient flagship rocket, the H3, aiming to deploy approximately 20 satellites and probes into space by 2030.

In 2019, Interstellar Technologies conducted Japan’s first privately developed rocket launch with its MOMO series, albeit without a full-scale satellite payload.

Partnering with the United States, Japan is striving to rejuvenate its domestic aerospace industry to counter technological and military competition from China and Russia.