Commercial Rocket Explodes Moments After Liftoff in Japan
In a setback for Japan's private space sector, a commercial rocket attempting to put a satellite into orbit exploded shortly after liftoff on Wednesday morning. The rocket, named Kairos and operated by Space One, was aiming to be Japan's first successful private sector satellite launch.
Online videos captured the dramatic moment when the rocket blasted off from a mountainous area, only to explode just five seconds later. A massive plume of smoke engulfed the surroundings, and flames shot up in some areas. Efforts were made to extinguish the blaze with spurts of water.
Debris from the rocket was seen scattering from the sky, and later, charred pieces were found strewn about on the ground. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and the fire was brought under control by the fire department.
The exact cause of the explosion is still under investigation. The rocket's automated system detected a problem during the second step of the launch, following liftoff. Space One has not disclosed the specific issue that led to the explosion.
President Masakazu Toyoda of Space One addressed the incident, stating, "We are taking what happened in a positive way and remain prepared to take up the next challenge." He emphasised that failures are a part of the space exploration process and refrained from labeling the launch as a failure.
The primary objective of the ill-fated launch was to deploy a government-made satellite into orbit. The satellite was intended to gather various information, including monitoring potential threats from rocket launches by neighboring North Korea. Additionally, the launch aimed to help Japan catch up with the United States and China in the field of rocket launches.
Space One, established in 2018 with investments from major Japanese companies, including Canon Electronics, IHI, Shimizu, and major banks, aspires to offer space services and travel in the future. The company remains determined to overcome this setback and continue its pursuit of space exploration.
Japan's space industry has primarily been led by the government through the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). JAXA has achieved significant milestones, such as developing various rockets, sending a spacecraft to the moon, and retrieving asteroid samples for research. However, Japanese companies are now striving to play a more prominent role in the global space business, following the example set by ventures like Elon Musk's SpaceX.
Despite this setback, Japan's private space sector remains resilient and determined to contribute to the advancement of space exploration. The investigation into the rocket explosion will continue, and Space One is eager to learn from this experience and prepare for future missions.
Commercial rocket explodes moments after liftoff in Japan, halting private sector satellite launch.
No injuries reported as fire department brings blaze under control.
Cause of explosion still under investigation, with Space One remaining positive and ready for the next challenge.
Source: AP NEWS