Japanese startup Space
One Co. faced another blow as its Kairos No. 2 rocket failed during launch on
Wednesday morning, December 18th. The rocket, carrying five small satellites,
self-destructed just three minutes after liftoff, marking the company’s second
failure this year.
The launch occurred in
Wakayama Prefecture, about 420 kilometers southwest of Tokyo, at 11 a.m. local
time. Initially, the rocket climbed higher than 100 kilometers (60 miles) into
space but spiraled out of control before being destroyed by its autonomous
safety mechanism.
What Went Wrong?
Space One executives
stated that an abnormality in the first-stage engine nozzle or its control
system likely caused the rocket to destabilize midflight.
“We don’t consider this a
failure because we are getting valuable data that will help our pursuit toward
the next challenge,” said Space One President Masakazu Toyoda, expressing
optimism about learning from the setback.
A Bigger Mission for Japan’s Space Industry
Space One, established in
2018 and backed by giants like Canon Electronics, aims to become Japan’s first
private company to place satellites into orbit. The goal? Offering affordable
and frequent space transport services to boost Japan’s competitiveness in the
global space race.
The Kairos No. 2 was
carrying satellites, including one from Taiwan’s space agency and others
developed by Japanese startups. This mission followed the company’s first
failed launch in March when the rocket exploded just five seconds after
liftoff.
Japan’s Space Ambitions
Japan’s space efforts are
largely led by the government agency JAXA and industry leaders like Mitsubishi
Heavy Industries. The country is striving to catch up with the U.S. by
encouraging private startups like Space One to compete in the growing satellite
delivery market.
Space One has ambitious
plans: up to 20 commercial launches per year—a significant leap from Japan’s
current six government-led annual launches.
What’s Next for Space One?
While the recent failure
highlights the challenges of private space ventures, Space One remains
determined to identify the root cause and bounce back stronger. The company
promises to keep pushing for success as it continues its mission to
revolutionize Japan’s space transport industry.
Final Thoughts
Failures like these are tough, but they’re also part of the learning curve for any space program. Will Space One overcome these hurdles and achieve Japan’s private space dream? Only time will tell