Launch of Japanese private rocket Kairos fails for second time

The launch of a private rocket Kairos 2 Japanese company Space One failed for the second time. This was reported by NHK TV channel on December 18.

It is noted that it was originally planned to detach five satellites, which transported the rocket, 50 minutes after launch at an altitude of about 500 km and put into orbit. After the separation of the first stage, malfunctions occurred, after which the company recognized the impossibility of the mission and decided to abort the flight.

"According to the company, there was a separation of the first stage from the rocket fairing, but due to malfunctions the launch failed," the publication says.

The TV channel specifies that the company is closely investigating the cause of the malfunction.

The rocket launch was reported earlier in the day by the private space company Space One. It was carried out from the company's launch site in Wakayama Prefecture.

On Dec. 14, Space One postponed the launch of a Kairos rocket carrying satellites due to high winds. The next day, December 15, the launch was also postponed.

Before that, on March 13, 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 (5:17 Moscow time). However, even then the rocket did not fly.