Tokyo-based startup Space One’s bid to become the first private Japanese company to place a satellite into orbit failed for a second time Wednesday, in a setback for Japan’s space development aspirations.
The 18-meter, 23-ton solid-fuel Kairos No. 2 rocket was launched at around 11 a.m. from a newly established space facility in Kushimoto, Wakayama Prefecture. However, a malfunction during the ascent led to the launch failure.
Space One President Masakazu Toyoda apologized for failing to meet the expectations of those who supported the launch, including clients and stakeholders.
“We will quickly investigate the cause of this outcome and clarify measures to prevent a recurrence,” Toyoda said at a news conference in the afternoon, adding that he is determined to try again for a third time.
“We do not consider this incident a failure,” he said. “The data and experience gained from this event are extremely valuable.”
He explained that the launch was automatically terminated 3 minutes and 7 seconds after liftoff during the combustion of the second-stage rocket and added that an investigation is underway to determine why this happened.
Mamoru Endo, a director at Space One, said that approximately 80 seconds after liftoff, the rocket experienced abnormalities during the combustion of the first stage. He also explained that the rocket veered off its planned flight path.
The failure follows two postponements for the launch and the failure of Space One's first rocket, which burst into flames just seconds after liftoff in the spring.
Initially delayed due to strong winds on its scheduled launch date Saturday, the attempt was rescheduled for Sunday but was again postponed, with strong winds cited as the reason for the second delay as well.
The rocket was carrying five small satellites, including ones developed by Taiwan's space agency, a startup based in Kyoto and even high school students at Hiroo Gakuen in Tokyo.
A standout feature of the Kairos rocket is its autonomous flight safety system, which monitors the flight path, speed, rocket condition and system functionality. If abnormalities are detected, the system interrupts the flight and triggers a self-destruction mechanism to prevent a deviation from the acceptable flight path. It is the first Japanese rocket to have such a feature.
The Kairos is slightly smaller than Japan's next-generation flagship Epsilon S rocket, currently being developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and has the capacity to carry about a quarter of the payload of the Epsilon S. This smaller size, however, offers the advantage of lower costs and quicker launch preparation times.
In March, the Kairos No. 1 rocket exploded just five seconds after liftoff, with debris scattering over a nearby mountainous area. The failure was attributed to issues with the rocket's first stage, prompting the autonomous flight safety system to activate the self-destruct mechanism.
The startup initially aimed to conduct its first launch in the fiscal year beginning April 2021, but delayed the attempt five times due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine causing difficulties in acquiring parts.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.