The archive · Space, Robots, Defence · Strategic decision · 2018–2026
Space One's Three Failures: Japanese Private Rocket Still Not Orbital
Space One's on-demand small rocket failed three times; first Japanese private orbital launch still unachieved.
Space One
What the business is
Japanese private commercial space company: develops the small rocket KAIROS, operates Japan's first private launch site Space Port Kiho (Space Port 纪伊), and provides orbital launch services for small satellites.
How it started
Space One was established in 2018 with investment from Canon Electronics, IHI Aerospace, and other companies. The company built Japan's first private rocket launch site, Space Port Kiho, in Kushimoto, Wakayama Prefecture, and developed the small rocket KAIROS, targeting the rapid-orbit-insertion market for 150–250 kg-class small satellites; if successful, it would become the first Japanese private company to put a satellite into orbit with its own rocket.
What happened
In March 2024, KAIROS Flight 1 exploded in midair seconds after liftoff (triggered by a self-destruct command). On December 18 of the same year, Flight 2, carrying 5 small satellites, lifted off; about 1 minute and 20 seconds later, nozzle drive control became abnormal and the vehicle's center of gravity became imbalanced, and about 3 minutes later the flight was terminated; President Toyota Masakazu said, 'We do not treat this as a failure; the data are nourishment for the next challenge.' On March 5, 2026, Flight 3 lifted off after three postponements due to weather and launch pad problems, then immediately had an attitude anomaly; the company judged that the mission could not be completed and triggered a flight termination, marking the third consecutive failure.
How it ended up
Still progressing after three straight failures: the company has disclosed the failure causes and continues to develop the next rocket, but the goal of 'the first Japanese private company to put a satellite into orbit' has still not been achieved.
Background
Space One, founded 2018 with Canon Electronics and IHI, develops KAIROS rocket and operates Space Port Kiho. It offers rapid on-demand launches for 150-250 kg satellites, aiming to be first Japanese private firm to orbit.
But failures: Flight 1 exploded in March 2024; Flight 2 terminated in December 2024; Flight 3 terminated in March 2026. Causes varied: thrust deviation, sensor false signal, static electricity noise.
Company persists, calling failures 'nourishment.' As of September 2026, it develops next rocket, but first orbital milestone remains unmet; market still exists, but timeline slips.
What has to be true
- The number of small satellites is surging, but Japan lacks fast, cheap private-sector orbital launch capability; Space One is betting on this time gap.
- Building its own Space Port Kiho turns launches from national facility scheduling into commercial services; this is where it differs from the traditional path.
- Industrial capital from Canon Electronics, IHI Aerospace, and others invested, giving it the funding and supply-chain support for repeated trial and error.
- Continuing to disclose causes and proceed after three failures shows that the company is betting on a long-term market rather than a single success or failure.
What can be applied
Industry backing and infrastructure can't lower engineering bar; startups must budget for multiple failures.
Aftermath
As of September 2026, Space One continues after three failures. On August 30, 2026, it disclosed Flight 3's cause: static electricity caused communication fault, triggering flight termination. Flight 1 had thrust deviation; Flight 2 had false sensor signal. Company still aims for first Japanese private orbital launch, but no new launch date announced.
Sources
- 民間ロケット「カイロス3号機」飛行中断の原因は「静電気」 開発企業が会見
- 日本商业航天固体火箭发射三连败
- Japanese space startup's second satellite launch attempt ends in failure
- 「ノズルの駆動制御に異常」カイロス2号機、打ち上げ失敗…「次の挑戦に向けての糧」
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