Japanese Space Startup's Second Launch Attempt Fails

Space One, a Japanese space startup, experienced a significant setback on Wednesday when its second attempt to launch a satellite-carrying rocket into orbit was aborted minutes after liftoff. The Kairos No. 2 rocket, which took off from a coastal launch site in Wakayama Prefecture, central Japan, was carrying five small satellites, including one from the Taiwanese space agency and several from Japanese startups.

The company made the critical decision to abort the mission after determining that it was unlikely to achieve its intended objectives. Approximately three minutes into the flight, the rocket activated its autonomous safety mechanism, resulting in its self-destruction. Space One's president, Masakazu Toyoda, expressed regret over the outcome but maintained an optimistic outlook, stating that the company does not consider this a failure but rather an opportunity to gather valuable data for future attempts.

Preliminary analysis by company engineers suggests that the problem may have originated from an abnormality in the first-stage engine nozzle or its control system, causing the rocket to spiral out of control during its ascent. Despite reaching an altitude of over 100 kilometers, thereby technically entering space, the mission was ultimately unsuccessful in deploying its payload.

This latest setback comes nine months after Space One's inaugural launch attempt in March, which also ended in failure when the rocket was intentionally destroyed shortly after takeoff. The company, established in 2018 with investments from major Japanese corporations, aims to become the first private Japanese firm to successfully place a satellite into orbit. Their efforts are part of a broader initiative to revitalize Japan's space industry and compete more effectively on the global stage, particularly with the United States in the increasingly competitive commercial space sector.