First launch of Japanese Kairos rocket fails seconds after liftoff
Posted: Sat, Mar 16, 2024, 11:48 AM ET (1548 GMT)
The first launch of a privately developed Japanese rocket ended in an explosion seconds after liftoff. The Kairos rocket lifted off at 10:01 pm EDT Tuesday (0201 GMT Wednesday) from the Spaceport Kii launch site on Honshu. The rocket, though, exploded about five seconds after liftoff, with debris falling back near the launch site. Space One, the company that developed Kairos, did not disclose details about what might have caused the explosion. Kairos uses three solid-propellant lower stages and a liquid-propellant kick stage and is designed to place up to 250 kilograms into low Earth orbit. Space One, whose shareholders include Canon and IHI Aerospace, has stated its goal is to launch Kairos up to 20 times a year but has offered few details about any customers for the rocket.
The first launch of a privately developed Japanese rocket ended in an explosion seconds after liftoff. The Kairos rocket lifted off at 10:01 pm EDT Tuesday (0201 GMT Wednesday) from the Spaceport Kii launch site on Honshu. The rocket, though, exploded about five seconds after liftoff, with debris falling back near the launch site. Space One, the company that developed Kairos, did not disclose details about what might have caused the explosion. Kairos uses three solid-propellant lower stages and a liquid-propellant kick stage and is designed to place up to 250 kilograms into low Earth orbit. Space One, whose shareholders include Canon and IHI Aerospace, has stated its goal is to launch Kairos up to 20 times a year but has offered few details about any customers for the rocket.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Thursday, March 26
Firefly Aerospace Supports U.S. Space Force VICTUS DIEM Exercise
GlobeNewswire — 6:15 am ET (1015 GMT) Debrief: Starlink Constellation Grows To 10,000 Satellites
Aviation Week — 6:14 am ET (1014 GMT) Iceland and Norway join EU's Starlink competitor, IRIS2
EurActiv — 6:12 am ET (1012 GMT) Namibia officially explains rejection of Starlink application
CAJ News — 6:12 am ET (1012 GMT) White House pushes to finalize Huntsville as Space Command HQ; DOJ moves to dismiss Colorado lawsuit
WAFF-TV — 6:11 am ET (1011 GMT) |
