Spaceport Kii
 Aerial photo of Spaceport Kii under construction (5 October 5 2019). | |||||||||||||
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| Location | Kushimoto, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan | ||||||||||||
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| Coordinates | 33°32′39″N 135°53′22″E / 33.5443°N 135.8895°E | ||||||||||||
| Time zone | UTC+9 (JST) | ||||||||||||
| Operator | Space One | ||||||||||||
| Total launches | 2 | ||||||||||||
| Launch pad(s) | 1 | ||||||||||||
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Spaceport Kii (Japanese: スペースポート紀伊, sometimes stylized as Space Port Kii) is a commercial spaceport located in Kushimoto, Wakayama Prefecture in Japan. Japan's first private spaceport, it is operated by Space One, who are using it to launch their solid-fuel rocket KAIROS. As of 17 December 2024, two launch attempts have been made on the site, on 13 March and 17 December respectively, which both ended up being a failure.[1][2][3]
Location and construction
Spaceport Kii is located near the southernmost tip of Honshu and is only a two-minute (1.9 kilometer) drive from Kii-Uragami Station in Nachikatsuura.
The launch site was funded by several Japanese corporations, including Canon Inc., Shimizu Corporation (who also constructed the site),[4] and IHI Corporation.[5] Ground broke on 19 November 2019.[4]
Launches
The first launch attempt of the KAIROS rocket was scheduled on 8 March 2024,[6] however it was delayed to the 13th due to a ship in too close of proximity.[7] It launched on the 13th, but disintegrated just seconds later.[1]
The second launch of KAIROS was initially scheduled for 14 December 24, but was ultimately scrubbed twice to 18 Dec due to bad weather. The 2nd launch had a successful liftoff, but ultimately suffered a loss of control nearing the end of the first-stage burn and was terminated.
Space One has stated that it plans to have around 20 launches of KAIROS a year.[4][2]
References
- ^ a b c "Japan's Space One Kairos rocket explodes on inaugural flight". NBC News. 13 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ a b Foust, Jeff (13 March 2024). "First Kairos rocket explodes seconds after liftoff". SpaceNews. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ Yamaguchi, Mari (17 December 2024). "Japanese space startup aborts 2nd satellite launch attempt minutes after liftoff". AP News. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
- ^ a b c Ltd, SPACE ONE Co. "SPACE ONE". SPACE ONE (in Japanese). Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ "Site planned for nuclear plant to host launch pad for small rockets | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis". The Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ "Japanese private-sector rocket to be launched Saturday | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News". NHK WORLD. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ "Japan Startup's Rocket Launch Halted Due to Ship in Hazard Area". Bloomberg.com. 9 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
External links