"Japan's Space One Rocket Explodes on Inaugural Flight"

A Japanese company's 18-meter Kairos rocket, designed to carry a small government test satellite into orbit, exploded seconds after its launch in western Japan. The rocket, made by Tokyo-based Space One, experienced a solid-fuelled explosion, disappointing hundreds of spectators and causing burning debris to fall on surrounding slopes. The failure represents a setback for Japan's ambitions in the commercial satellite launch market, despite previous successful space missions by the country. Space One, established in 2018, is investigating the details of the incident, which occurred after multiple launch postponements due to parts shortages and other issues.