Space One KAIROS explained

KAIROS (Kii-based Advanced & Instant Rocket System)
Function:Launch vehicle
Manufacturer:Space One
Country-Origin:Japan
Height:18 m
Diameter:1.35 m
Mass:23 t
Stages:4
Capacities:
Location:500 km LEO, 33° inclination
Comparable:Minotaur I
Pegasus
Electron
Ceres-1
Status:In development
Sites:Spaceport Kii
Launches:1
Fail:1
First:13 March 2024

The, or Kii-based Advanced & Instant Rocket System,[1] is a Japanese solid-fuel rocket designed to launch small satellites of mass up to 250 kg to low Earth orbit and up to 150 kg to sun-synchronous orbit by the private spaceflight company Space One.[2] It consists of 3 solid fuel powered stages and a liquid propellant upper stage.

Namesake

The namesake of the KAIROS rocket is the Greek word Kairos, which means the subjective 'right time' as contrasted with Chronos which is the objective clock time. Kairos is also an alternate spelling of the name of Caerus, the Greek deity of luck and opportunity.[3]

Manufacture

manufactures the KAIROS rocket at Tomioka Plant in the city of Tomioka, Gunma Prefecture. [4] [5]

Launches

Launch site

Launches are planned from Spaceport Kii in Kushimoto, Wakayama, Japan, a dedicated launch site built by Shimizu Corporation.[6] [7] This spaceport is accessible from Tokyo International Airport (Haneda Airport) via Nanki–Shirahama Airport in approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes, and from Kansai International Airport in approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.

First launch

The first launch was planned on 9 March 2024[8] but was postponed because a ship was spotted in the "maritime warning area" set up in waters near the launch pad.[9] [10] [11] The launch eventually took place on 13 March 2024, but the vehicle exploded five seconds after liftoff.[12] The remains of the rocket fell close to the launch pad, but no substantial damage was found.[13] Space One announced that the autonomous flight termination system could have activated and ended the mission. The launch failure is still under investigation.[14]

List of launches

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2024-01-29 . スペースワンの「カイロスロケット初号機」、3/9にスペースポート紀伊より打上げ . 2024-03-11 . SPACE Media . ja.
  2. Web site: Space One - Launch Vehicle . Space One . 17 February 2024.
  3. Book: Thompson, Gary . Cybercultures . 2012 . 9789401208536 . At the Interface / Probing the Boundaries . 83 . 1–13 . Electronic Kairos . 10.1163/9789401208536_002.
  4. Web site: IHI AEROSPACE Co., Ltd. Company Profile . 2024-03-11 . IHI AEROSPACE Co., Ltd..
  5. Web site: 日経ビジネス電子版 . 日本初の民間ロケット発射場、なぜ本州最南端に . 2024-03-09 . 日経ビジネス電子版 . 21 November 2019 . ja.
  6. Web site: 2019-11-19 . 【スペースポート紀伊】日本初!民間企業が建設 ロケット打ち上げ射場 起工式を開催 スペースワン . 2024-03-11 . 建設通信新聞Digital.
  7. Web site: Space One - Spaceport Kii . 17 February 2024 . Space One.
  8. Web site: Announcement of the KAIROS Rocket's First Launch Schedule . 17 February 2024 . Space One.
  9. Web site: NEWS . KYODO . Rocket launch by private Japanese firm Space One postponed . 2024-03-11 . Kyodo News+.
  10. Web site: 2024-03-11 . スペースワンの小型ロケット、13日に打ち上げ再設定 . 2024-03-11 . 日本経済新聞 . ja.
  11. Web site: Japan private firm reschedules rocket launch for Wednesday NHK WORLD-JAPAN News . 2024-03-11 . NHK WORLD . en.
  12. Web site: Moment Japan's Space One rocket explodes . . 12 March 2024 .
  13. Web site: Foust . Jeff . 2024-03-13 . First Kairos rocket explodes seconds after liftoff . 2024-03-14 . SpaceNews . en-US.
  14. Web site: 2024-03-13 . スペースワンの小型ロケット「カイロス」爆発、打ち上げ直後に . 2024-03-13 . 日本経済新聞 . ja.