WATCH: Kairos Rocket Explodes Seconds Into Its Inaugural Launch – Space One Aims To Be First Japanese Private Company To Put Satellites in Space
A Japanese company saw its dreams of becoming the first private entity in the country to put a satellite in orbit go up in flames today (13), as the small, solid-fuel rocket Kairos exploded seconds after its inaugural launch.
The explosion is a considerable setback for Space One and the rocket industry in Japan.
It comes right as the government and investors ramp up support for the space sector, boosted by a national security buildup and the rapidly expanding demand for commercial satellites.
Reuters reported:
“The 18-metre (59 ft) rocket exploded five seconds after lifting off, leaving behind a large cloud of smoke, a fire, fragments of the rocket and sprays of firefighting water near the launch pad on the tip of mountainous Kii peninsula in western Japan,
