A startup faced a major failure as its private Japanese rocket explodes in midair shortly after starting its flight on Wednesday, March 13, in the western Wakayama region of Japan.
Failed mission for Space One’s Kairos rocket
This company was responsible for the development of the Kairos rocket, an impressive structure 18 meters high and weighing 23 tons. With the mission to carry a government test satellite into space, the launch took place at Space Port Kii, recognized as the first commercial launch port in the country, located near Kushimoto, Wakayama.
Images before the private rocket exploded in mid-flight. Source: Associated Press
The success of this mission would have positioned Space One as the first private Japanese firm to achieve the feat of putting a satellite into orbit. However, the road to launch was fraught with difficulties, facing up to five delays due to a variety of factors, including a shortage of essential components for liftoff.
The moment of the explosion was captured live, detailing how the solid-fuel rocket was consumed in flames, leading the company to intentionally terminate the mission shortly thereafter. In a statement, Space One announced that a detailed investigation was underway to determine the underlying causes of this unexpected outcome.
Why does the Japanese private rocket explode in the air?
The failure could be related to a failure in the “autonomous flight termination system”, although the exact trigger for the explosion has not yet been confirmed. The objective of the launch was to place an intelligence satellite satellite in an orbit of approximately 500 km above the Earth, serving as a backup in case of technical problems with the operating satellites.
In addition to the technical impact, the incident had financial repercussions, particularly for Canon Electronics one of Space One’s founding partners. Canon shares fell 12.7% in response to the launch failure, highlighting the volatility that events of this nature can generate in the market.
The company’s goal Space One to become a leading provider of low-cost, high-efficiency launch services in the global space market now appears more challenging. With plans to launch up to 20 rockets a year by the end of this decade, the startup faces the task of overcoming this setback to achieve its future goals.
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Source: interestingengineering.com
Photo: Associated Press
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