Japan’s first commercial private orbital launch attempt fails, a Kairos rocket explodes after takeoff, watch

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Japan’s first private-sector orbital launch attempt failed as Tokyo-based commercial firm Space One’s Kairos rocket exploded shortly after liftoff on March 13, 2024. Kairos is a small, solid-fuel rocket, and if it had successfully reached orbit, would have been Space One. Became the first Japanese private company to place a satellite in orbit.

Media reports said the rocket took off at 2:01 am GMT (7:31 am IST), and exploded a few seconds later. Video of the explosion showed large clouds of smoke, fire and rocket fragments near the launch pad.

Where was Kairos launched? What was it carrying?

Kairos was launched from Wakayama Prefecture, a mountainous region full of trees in Japan’s Kii Peninsula. The rocket was carrying an experimental government satellite that could be used to temporarily replace intelligent satellites in orbit if they went offline.

Water was sprayed towards the explosion site to extinguish the fire.

Space One had its launch delayed several times. An Associated Press (AP) report, citing Japanese media reports, said the company last suspended operations on March 11 because a ship was spotted in a risk area.

There are no reports of any damage or injuries as a result of the explosion and the fire has been extinguished.

Space One said the flight was interrupted after launch from the Kauai Peninsula, Reuters reported. The company is investigating the reason behind the explosion.

Space One said the launch of Kairos was automated and there were few personnel present at the ground control center.

Kairos stands for Kii-based Advanced and Instant Rocket System. Additionally, Kairos means ‘time’ in Greek.

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More about Japan’s space sector

Japan’s rocket developers are aiming to build cheaper launch vehicles to take advantage of the growing satellite launch market.

In January 2024, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) successfully soft-landed the Smart Lander for Investigating the Moon (SLIM) on the Moon, making Japan the fifth country to achieve a soft landing on the Moon.

Space One was founded in July 2018 with investment from Canon Electronics, IHI Aerospace, Shimizu Corporation and the Development Bank of Japan.