On Wednesday, a rocket built by a Japanese corporation exploded shortly after takeoff. NHK, a public media outlet, shared video footage of the disastrous event.

The startup Space One, located in Tokyo, had set its sights on being the first private company in Japan to effectively launch a satellite into orbit.

The Kairos rocket, fueled by solid propellant, launched from a private launch site in western Japan’s Wakayama prefecture. It was carrying a government experimental satellite.

Shortly after liftoff, the rocket exploded into a fiery explosion, enveloping the launch pad in thick, dark smoke.

As the sprinklers started spraying water, burning objects were observed descending onto the nearby mountain inclines.

Space One stated that the initial launch of the Kairos rocket took place, but a decision was made to terminate the flight. They also mentioned that further information is currently being examined.

The inability to succeed in this endeavor is a setback for Japan’s attempts to break into the highly profitable satellite launching industry.

The government is looking to determine if it has the capability to rapidly deploy temporary, compact satellites in the event of a malfunction of its current spy satellites.

The launch of Kairos was expected to result in the satellite being successfully placed into orbit within 51 minutes.

In 2018, a group made up of leading Japanese technology companies such as Canon Electronics, IHI Aerospace, Shimizu construction company, and the government-operated Development Bank of Japan founded Space One.

In July of last year, a Japanese rocket engine exploded during a test approximately 50 seconds after being ignited.

The Epsilon S with solid fuel was an upgraded variation of the Epsilon rocket which had previously been unsuccessful in its launch attempt in October.

The testing location in Akita’s northern district was suddenly consumed by fire, causing a large column of smoke to ascend into the sky.

The issue occurred when Tokyo’s second attempt to launch their H3 rocket, in March of 2023, resulted in a failure after liftoff.

In the previous month, Japan’s space agency celebrated a successful launch of its new leading rocket, the H3. This came after several delays and two unsuccessful launch attempts.

The H3 was launched from the Tanegashima Space Center in the southwestern region of Japan, causing cheers and applause at the JAXA control center.

It has been proposed as a competitor to SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and has the potential to transport cargo to lunar bases in the future.

In January, Japan made a successful landing on the moon with an unmanned probe. However, the angle was not perfect, but it still made Japan the fifth country to achieve a “soft landing” on the moon’s surface.