What’s New
A Japanese space startup announced that its second attempt to launch a rocket carrying satellites into orbit was aborted just minutes after liftoff on Wednesday. The rocket self-destructed, marking the company’s second failure in nine months, following an explosion during its first launch attempt.
Space One’s Kairos No. 2 rocket launched from a coastal site in Wakayama Prefecture, a mountainous region in central Japan.
Why It Matters
Startup Space One is striving to become Japan’s first private company to successfully place a satellite into orbit. The firm aims to revitalize Japan’s lagging space industry with a focus on small rockets designed for affordable space transport services.
Japan has high hopes for Space One’s efforts to establish a competitive domestic space industry, positioning the nation to rival the United States in the rapidly growing space sector.