Japan’s Space One Delays Kairos Rocket Launch Again

AFP/APP

Tokyo: A startup aiming to become Japan’s first private firm to put a satellite into orbit postponed a rocket launch for the second day running on Sunday, after its first try ended in a mid-air explosion.

Tokyo-based Space One had initially scheduled liftoff for its Kairos rocket for 11:00 am (0200 GMT) on Saturday but pushed the launch back 24 hours because of high wind speeds. It postponed the launch again on Sunday because of similar weather conditions, Space One executive Kozo Abe told reporters.

“As it was the case yesterday, we assessed that the condition of high-altitude wind above the launch pad was not desirable. We made the decision to postpone the launch,” Abe said during a press conference.

The firm is currently in talks with authorities to set a new launch time, hoping for 11:00 am on Wednesday.

In March, the solid-fuel Kairos rocket, carrying a small government test satellite, lifted off for the first time from the Space One launch pad, dubbed Spaceport Kii.

However, seconds later, technical problems were detected, and a self-destruct order was sent to the 18-metre (60-foot) rocket. It erupted in flames, sending white smoke billowing around the remote mountainous area.

Hundreds of spectators, gathered at public viewing areas including a nearby waterfront, witnessed the dramatic scene.

For the second launch attempt, the rocket was supposed to carry five satellites, including one from the Taiwan Space Agency and others designed by Japanese students and corporate ventures.

Space One was founded in 2018 by major businesses, including Canon Electronics, IHI Aerospace, construction firm Shimizu, and the government-run Development Bank of Japan. The company hopes to establish itself in a competitive international field by launching small rockets quickly for businesses seeking to put satellites into space.