Japan Rocket Catches Fire During Test in Blow to Space Program
- Manufacturer shares tumble after JAXA’s Epsilon S caught fire
- Incident could delay planned debut launch in March next year
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Japan’s lightweight rocket failed its second test run after catching fire Tuesday in the latest setback for the country’s space program.
The Epsilon S rocket’s second-stage engine suffered a malfunction 49 seconds into a ground test Tuesday morning local time at Tanegashima Space Center in the southeastern Kagoshima Prefecture, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) said in a statement.