Kairos No. 3 Rocket Launch Unsuccessful

(A typo in the fifth paragraph has been corrected.) Kairos No. 3 Rocket Launch Unsuccessful Kushimoto, Wakayama Pref., March 5 (Jiji Press)–The launch of Japanese startup Space One Co.’s Kairos No. 3 small rocket ended in failure on Thursday morning, following the unsuccessful launches of the No. 1 and No. 2 rockets. If successful, it would have been the first time for a Japanese rocket developed solely by the private sector to put a satellite into orbit. The No. 3 rocket lifted off from Space One’s Spaceport Kii launch site in the western Japan town of Kushimoto, Wakayama Prefecture, at around 11:10 a.m. However, the company aborted the flight soon after takeoff. Space One explained that it took the measure after finding it difficult to complete the mission. It will hold a press conference later in the day. The 18-meter, 23-ton rocket was carrying five small satellites, including those developed by students at a Tokyo high school and the Taiwan Space Agency. The launch was originally scheduled for Feb. 25, but was postponed three times due to unfavorable weather and issues with a positioning satellite. In 2024, the Kairos No. 1 and No. 2 rockets failed to launch successfully due to the activation of the autonomous flight safety system. Space One was established in 2018 with investments from companies including Canon Electronics Inc. and IHI Aerospace Co. It aims commercialize the “space delivery” of small satellites. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]