Japan has launched a fully private rocket with satellites into space for the first time

Space One, a private space company in Japan, launched a Kairos-2 rocket built without government involvement carrying five satellites on December 18.

"The launch time today at 11:00 (05:00 Moscow time)," the company said on its website.

It is reported that the launch was made from the company's launch site in Wakayama Prefecture.

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Earlier, on December 14, the private Japanese company Space One postponed the launch of the Kairos rocket with satellites due to strong winds. The next day, December 15, the launch was also postponed.

On March 13 this year, Japan's first private rocket exploded immediately after launch. The Kairos flight lasted only a few seconds. The failed launch was carried out by Space One. The rocket was carrying a government satellite weighing about 100 kilograms.

Shortly before, on March 9, the launch of a private Kairos rocket was also postponed. It was supposed to take place at 11:01 (05:01 Moscow time), but after the final countdown, the rocket did not budge. A few minutes later, it was reported that the launch was postponed until 11:17 (05:17 Moscow time). However, even then the rocket did not fly.