Space One Co. launched the 'Kairos' rocket from the Kii Spaceport in the Kushimoto region of the southeastern Wakayama prefecture at 11:01 local time.
The 18-meter-long rocket exploded in mid-air 5 seconds after takeoff.
While there were no injuries in the incident, fire crews were dispatched to the area due to the fire that broke out following the explosion.
MISSION SUSPENDED
In a statement from the company, it was reported that efforts are underway to determine the malfunction in the rocket's launch and that the 'mission has been suspended.'
According to the Cabinet Satellite Intelligence Center, it had been reported that the satellite in the rocket's cargo "could be used for monitoring military facilities in North Korea."
According to the official Kyodo news agency, if the launch had been successful, Space One would have become the first private Japanese company to place a satellite into orbit.
The company, founded in 2018 by Canon Electronics Inc, IHI Aerospace Co, Shimizu Corp., and the Development Bank of Japan, aims to send 30 rockets into space annually by the 2030s.
Space One aims to commercialize space services by providing low-cost rocket launch services.
News Source: AA
