Rocket Explodes Moments After Japan Space Startup’s Launch

Space One was trying to send a government satellite to space
Company wanted takeoff to be first by Japan’s private sector

WATCH: A rocket launched by Space One Co., a Japanese startup backed by Canon Inc., exploded in a fireball seconds after taking off。Source: NTV via APTN

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By Nicholas Takahashi

March 13, 2024 at 2:23 AM UTC

Updated on

March 13, 2024 at 5:29 AM UTC

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Space One Co., a Japanese startup backed by Canon Inc., failed to send its first rocket to space, a major setback in efforts to join a booming market for commercial launches.

The lightweight Kairos rocket exploded in flames just seconds after taking off around 11 a.m. Wednesday morning local time from Space Port Kii, about 420 kilometers (260 miles) southwest of Tokyo. Live footage showed a plume of smoke surrounding the fiery wreckage, which was extinguished soon after.