Japanese startup fails third satellite launch attempt

March 05, 2026 / 2:23 PM

Sharjah24 - AFP: A Japanese private company, Space One, experienced its third unsuccessful attempt to launch a satellite into orbit when its Kairos rocket spiralled back to Earth shortly after take-off. The rocket lifted off from the coastal Wakayama region in western Japan but lost power soon after, spinning downwards. The exact landing location is unknown.

Previous attempts and technical issues

Space One’s first launch in March 2024 ended in an explosion seconds after lift-off, while the second attempt failed after a technical problem forced engineers to terminate the operation. A planned third launch was postponed by one day due to a glitch just seconds before take-off. The rocket carried multiple satellites, including one for a Tokyo high school.

Ambitions and context

The startup aims to provide affordable, frequent satellite launches to meet global demand, following models like SpaceX. Founded in 2018 with support from firms including Canon Electronics, IHI Aerospace, Shimizu, and the Development Bank of Japan, the company is part of a growing Japanese private space sector alongside national efforts by JAXA, which has faced its own launch challenges, including H3 rocket setbacks and prior Moon missions.