The company aiming to become the first private Japanese company to put a satellite into orbit postponed its rocket launch on Saturday after its first attempt ended in a mid-air explosion.
Tokyo-based Space One’s Kairos rocket was scheduled to make its second launch at 11 a.m. (0200 GMT) from the company’s launch pad in the rural western region of Wakayama, but it was called off in a move announced about 20 minutes before the scheduled launch. ,
Space One executive Kozo Abe said, “During the final decision-making process for launch, we analyzed the weather conditions and determined that the wind speed above an altitude of 10 kilometers (6.2 mi) was so strong that it Was not suitable for launch.” Told reporters.
Abe said the company planned to make another attempt at 11 a.m. Sunday.
“We will make every effort to prepare for tomorrow’s launch,” he said.
Private companies are providing cheaper and more frequent space exploration opportunities than governments, and Space One is expected to emulate Elon Musk’s SpaceX, which has contracts with NASA and the Pentagon.
But first, it needs to get off the ground.
The solid-fuel Kairos, carrying a small government test satellite, took off for the first time in March from the Space One launch pad, called Spaceport Kii.
But a few seconds later, technical problems were detected and a command to self-destruct was sent to the 18-metre (60-foot) rocket.
Due to this, flames started rising, due to which white smoke spread all around the remote hilly area.
Hundreds of spectators gathered at public viewing areas, including the nearby beach, to witness the dramatic scene.
In the second launch attempt, the rocket was to carry five satellites, one of which belonged to the Taiwan Space Agency and the others were designed by Japanese students and corporate enterprises.
Space One was founded in 2018 by major businesses including Canon Electronics, IHI Aerospace, construction firm Shimizu and the government-run Development Bank of Japan.
The company is hoping to establish itself in the competitive international field by quickly launching small rockets for businesses looking to place satellites in space.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is also on a mission to become a major player in satellite launches.
JAXA’s next-generation H3 launch system experienced several failed take-off attempts before a successful blast-off in February.
Also this year, Japan landed an unmanned spacecraft on the Moon – albeit at an oblique angle – making it the fifth country to make a soft landing on the lunar surface.
But JAXA recently had to delay the launch of a compact, solid-fuel Epsilon S rocket after it caused a major fire during engine testing.
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