Dec 19, 2024 (NHK) - A Japanese venture firm has failed to launch a small rocket for the second time. It attributed the failure to a malfunction of a nozzle where combustion gas comes out of.
Space One's second Kairos lifted off from a launch pad in Wakayama Prefecture's Kushimoto Town on Wednesday morning. But the rocket experienced trouble during its ascent, resulting in the launch's failure.
The firm said at a news conference later in the day that the part called a nozzle in the first stage of the rocket showed irregular movements about 80 seconds after liftoff. It also said the rocket's posture also became unusual.
The firm said it aborted the flight 3 minutes and 7 seconds after liftoff while the rocket's second stage was burning as the rocket deviated from the planned trajectory.
The rocket was carrying five small satellites, which were supposed to be detached and put into orbit. If Wednesday's launch had been successful, Space One would have become the first private Japanese firm to put satellites into orbit on its own.
This is the second consecutive launch failure after the company's first rocket exploded soon after liftoff in March this year. The firm plans to quickly investigate the cause and has not decided when it could launch the third one.
At the news conference, company President Toyoda Masakazu offered an apology for having failed to put the satellites into orbit. He went on to say that the company will work hard toward the next step.
