• News
    • Tech News
    • AI
  • Gadgets
    • Apple
    • iPhone
  • Gaming
    • Playstation
    • Xbox
  • Science
    • News
    • Space
  • Streaming
    • Netflix
  • Vehicles
    • Car News
  • Social Media
    • WhatsApp
    • YouTube
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
TikTok
Snapchat
WhatsApp
Submit Your Content
Japanese rocket dramatically exploded seconds after lift-off

Home> News

Published 13:02 14 Mar 2024 GMT

Japanese rocket dramatically exploded seconds after lift-off

Hundreds of Kushimoto locals gathered to watch the launch.

Rebekah Jordan

Rebekah Jordan

Featured Image Credit: GlobalNews/YouTube
Science
Space

Advert

Advert

Advert

Japan attempted to launch a rocket in order to send a satellite into orbit after 51 minutes.

As part of Japan's attempt to take the lead in the global space race, the satellite would gather information for the Japanese government, including potential rocket threats from North Korea.

Around 11 am, hundreds of locals gathered in Kushimoto, a town of 15,000 residents, to watch the launch of solid-fuel Kairos.

However, seconds after blast-off, the 18-metre, 23-ton rocket exploded, engulfing it in flames and spreading debris all over the ground below.

Advert

Smoke rapidly filled the remote, mountainous area of west Japan.

Space One, the company behind the rocket, commented on the unsuccessful launch: 'The launch of the first Kairos rocket was executed, but we took a measure to abort the flight.' The company added that 'details are being investigated.'

GlobalNews/YouTube
GlobalNews/YouTube

According to Space One's president Masakazu Toyoda: 'We are taking what happened in a positive way and remain prepared to take up the next challenge.'

Advert

The blast was triggered by the Tokyo start-up company after a fault was spotted in the rocket. The fault was noticed in step two, with step one being lift-off.

Fortunately, there were no reported injuries and the rocket was unmanned.

One elderly local expressed his disappointment, saying: 'I had high hopes for this, so I'm disappointed. I want to know what happened.'

The mayor of Kushimoto stated: 'I didn’t even imagine an outcome like this. But the town will continue to support Space One, and we want to continue to offer our help so that the first rocket will have a successful launch.'

Advert

GlobalNews/YouTube
GlobalNews/YouTube

The governor of the Wakayama Prefecture pointed out that the rocket had autonomously 'executed the abort command after detecting trouble.'

Staying optimistic, however, hr said that the attempt was 'a big step forward.'

'It’s different from an uncontrollable explosion, so I’m a bit relieved,' the governor added.

Advert

Space One was established in 2018 in a collaboration among major Japanese tech businesses, including Canon Electronics, IHI Aerospace, construction firm Shimizu and the Development Bank of Japan.

Japan faced a similar setback in its last rocket launch attempt back in July last year when the solid-fuel Epsilon S rocket exploded during a test approximately 50 seconds after ignition.

  • Space capsule carrying ashes of 166 people plunges to Earth after hitting 'anomaly'
  • 'First look' inside Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin factory where they're building a $20,000,000 giant reusable rocket
  • Harrowing simulation shows what would happen to astronauts if Earth exploded
  • Everything that would happen to your body if we lost oxygen for 60 seconds

Choose your content:

15 hours ago
16 hours ago
  • 15 hours ago

    Elon Musk comments on Donald Trump's claims he's gone 'off the rails' in blunt post

    The President also branded him a 'trainwreck'

    News
  • 15 hours ago

    China creates revolutionary brain chip that is 'better' than Elon Musk's Neuralink

    The world's richest man could have some serious competition

    News
  • 16 hours ago

    TikToker unknowingly captures moment she comes into contact with one of world's deadliest animals that changes her life

    The horrifying moment was caught on camera

    News
  • 16 hours ago

    Jeff Bezos' wedding goody bags included surprising object ordered from Amazon

    Some expense spared

    News