December 18, 2024, approximately three minutes after liftoff. The rocket self-destructed after detecting anomalies in the first-stage engine nozzle control and trajectory. This incident represents a significant setback for Space One, which aims to become a major player in the commercial space launch sector.
Launch and Failure Details
The Kairos rocket launched from the Spaceport Kii, located in western Japan, with the goal of placing five small satellites into a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of approximately 500 kilometers. Among the satellites onboard was one developed by the Taiwanese space agency. However, the rocket encountered technical issues in the first-stage engine nozzle control and attitude control system, leading to its self-destruction for safety reasons. “We believe the problem is related to the first-stage nozzle or its attitude control system,” Space One officials stated a few hours after the failure.
A Year of Challenges for Space One
This is the second consecutive failure for the Kairos rocket in less than a year. The first inaugural flight, conducted in March 2024, also ended disastrously, with an explosion just seconds after liftoff. Despite these obstacles, Space One is determined to continue its efforts to improve its technology and ensure the success of future launches.
Implications for Space One and the Japanese Space Sector
Founded in 2018, Space One aims to conduct up to 20 small rocket launches annually by 2029, addressing the growing demand for launch services for small satellites. The company’s president, Masakazu Toyoda, emphasized that, despite the recent failure, the data collected will be crucial for refining the design and operations of future rockets. “We apologize to our customers and to everyone who supported this mission for failing to meet expectations,” Toyoda stated.
This incident also highlights broader challenges faced by the Japanese private space sector, including the limited availability of domestic launch options. This situation is pushing many startups to turn to international providers like SpaceX and Rocket Lab to meet their needs.
Next Steps
Space One has announced that it will thoroughly investigate the causes of the failure to resume launch operations as soon as possible. “Quickly determining the cause of the incident and attempting the launch again will be crucial to contributing to the expansion of the space business through small rocket launch services,” company representatives affirmed.
Conclusions
The failure of the second Kairos launch represents a setback for Space One, but not necessarily a fatal blow to its ambitions. The startup appears determined to learn from its mistakes and improve its technology. Moreover, this event highlights the inherent difficulties of the space market, especially for startups competing in a highly technical and competitive sector. The future success of Space One will depend on the company’s ability to overcome these challenges and establish itself as a leader in the small satellite launch market.
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