Tokyo: A rocket manufactured by a private company in Japan exploded shortly after launch on Wednesday. The rocket carrying the satellite of Tokyo-based startup Space One Company exploded. It was Japan’s first private sector rocket. An 18 meter tall Kairos rocket exploded. Video footage of the incident has been released. The launch was aimed at becoming the first private company to launch a satellite into orbit.
The launch took place from a launch pad in Wakayama Prefecture in western Japan. The rocket was carrying Japan’s experimental satellite. But within seconds of launch, the rocket turned into a fireball. Parts of the rocket fell on the launch pad below and burned up.
Space One said it was investigating the cause of the failure. Space One will be launched in 2018 by companies including Canon Electronics, IHI Aerospace, construction firm Shimizu and the state-owned Development Bank of Japan.
The rocket’s explosion is a setback for Japan’s efforts to enter the satellite launch market. Japan is trying to quickly launch temporary and smaller satellites when existing spy satellites fail. Another Japanese rocket exploded during a test last July.
