Third Kairos launch fails
SpaceNews • • business
Key Points:
- The third launch of Japan's Kairos small rocket failed shortly after liftoff on March 4, with the flight termination system activated about 70 seconds into flight due to mission difficulties.
- This marks the third consecutive failure for Kairos, which aims to place up to 150 kilograms into sun-synchronous orbit, following earlier issues with the first-stage motor and thrust vector control system.
- The latest launch carried five small satellites from Japanese and Taiwanese organizations, raising concerns about Kairos' reliability and the future of its operator, Space One, backed by investors including Canon and IHI Aerospace.
- Japan's broader launch industry is facing multiple setbacks, including the H3 rocket's December failure linked to payload fairing separation and the
