Japanese TV news live footage showed that the test started normally, with white smoke coming out of the side
Post Date – 11:00 PM, Friday – July 23rd 14th
Tokyo: A rocket being developed by JAXA exploded during a test on Friday, but no injuries were reported, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said.
The cause of the accident at the facility in Akita prefecture in northeastern Japan is still under investigation, JAXA said. It is unclear when testing of the Epsilon S rocket will resume.
Japanese TV news footage from the scene showed that the test started normally, with white smoke billowing from the side.
About a minute later, flames and ash were shot upwards in an explosion that knocked off the roof of the building.
The failure is a setback for JAXA’s ambitions to fully enter the small satellite launch market, which is expected to grow.
An Epsilon S demonstration launch was originally scheduled for this fiscal year, but a May launch attempt failed. Another rocket, called the H3, launched by JAXA in March failed.
But the earlier Epsilon has managed to put several satellites into orbit.
