Japanese Space Startup's Second Rocket Launch Ends in Failure

Space One's Kairos No. 2 rocket self-destructed minutes after liftoff, marking the company's second unsuccessful orbital launch attempt in nine months.

Space One's Kairos No. 2 rocket launched from Space Port Kii in Wakayama Prefecture but self-destructed approximately three minutes after liftoff due to a first-stage nozzle malfunction.
The rocket was carrying five small satellites, including one from the Taiwan Space Agency and others from Japanese startups, aiming for sun-synchronous orbit.
This failure follows the company's debut launch in March, which ended in an explosion caused by incorrect propulsion settings in the first-stage motor.
Space One, founded in 2018 with backing from major Japanese firms like Canon Electronics and IHI Aerospace, aims to establish a competitive private space industry in Japan.
The company emphasized that valuable data was collected from the launch and stated its commitment to addressing technical issues for future attempts.