ALBAWABA - Massive billows of flames and smoke soared into the sky as fire erupted at a rocket testing site in Tanegashima Space Center, Kagoshima prefecture, southern Japan.
At the site, a solid-fuel Epsilon S rocket test was underway when the fire erupted, however, initial reports recorded no injuries in the remote testing area. Footage on national broadcaster NHK showed towering balls of fire and white fumes rising from the Tanegashima Space Center.
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) told AFP in a statement that no abnormality in the combustion test, "We are trying to assess what happened,".
According to the Asahi Shimbun Daily, the agency's intention to introduce the Epsilon S, the Japanese solid-fuel rocket, in March is now nearly impossible. In July 2023, one Epsilon S engine detonated during a test about 50 seconds after starting.
According to Kyodo News, in that incident, a piece of metal from the ignition melted and destroyed the thermal insulator covering the engine, causing fuel to ignite.
Top government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters at a public briefing on Tuesday that "Including the Epsilon S, the development of flagship rockets is extremely important for the independence of Japan’s space development program,".
In March, a rocket developed by a private Japanese business detonated seconds after takeoff. Space One's 18-meter (60-foot) Kairos rocket launched from the seaside Wakayama region of western Japan, carrying a small government test satellite.
Around five seconds later, the solid-fuel rocket caught fire, sending white smoke pouring across the remote mountainous location while orange flames blazed on the ground, according to live footage.
