Japanese Rocket Kairos Explodes Just Seconds After Liftoff on Inaugural Mission
In a catastrophic turn of events, a Japanese solid-fueled rocket known as Kairos, launched by private firm Space One, exploded a mere five seconds after liftoff during its first mission. The rocket was carrying an experimental government satellite intended to serve as a backup for intelligence satellites in case they fell out of orbit.
Debris from the explosion rained down into the mountain and sea below the launch site, posing a potential environmental hazard. The autonomous flight-termination system was activated due to an unspecified issue, leading to the rocket’s destruction.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and the fire caused by the explosion has since been extinguished. Space One, a company founded in 2018 with the aim of providing affordable and accessible space launch services, expressed their disappointment over the failed mission.
The launch, originally scheduled for the previous Saturday, was delayed due to a ship entering the restricted area in the nearby sea. Space One’s mission statement emphasizes cost-efficiency and increasing opportunities in the space business, aiming to have the shortest launch operation time and highest frequency of launches globally.
Despite this setback, Space One executive Kozo Abe highlighted that Kairos’ launch cost is competitive with American rival Rocket Lab. This incident joins a string of setbacks for Japan’s space program, including a previous explosion during testing and a failed rocket launch by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) last year.
However, amidst these challenges, JAXA has also achieved notable successes, such as successfully landing a lunar probe on the moon in January. The space industry continues to be fraught with risks and obstacles, but organizations like Space One and JAXA remain steadfast in their pursuit of advancements in space exploration.
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