Japan’s Space Agency Aborts Epsilon S Rocket Test After Unexplained Fire

Japan’s space agency, JAXA, has abandoned the Epsilon S rocket test after a fire broke out. The test was due to take place at the Tanegashima Space Center on 26th November, but was quickly aborted with minimal word from the agency as yet.

“There was an abnormality during today’s combustion test. We are trying to assess what happened,” JAXA said.

Epsilon S rocket test failed

National broadcaster NHK broadcast footage with flames and smoke rising from the site, and nearby journalists reported an explosion at around 08:30 local time. Nobody has been injured in the incident, Reuters reports.

“JAXA will conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the problem and consider countermeasures,” explained Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, the Japanese government spokesperson.

“The development of flagship rockets is extremely important for the independence of Japan’s space development program.”

This is the latest in a string of problems within JAXA, and Asahi Shimbun newspaper reported that the plan to launch Epsilon S by March 2025 would now likely be missed. The next-generation H3 launch system has also encountered its own problems.

Epsilon S is a Japanese-developed solid-fuel rocket designed to launch scientific satellites. The previous M-V rocket which was retired in 2006 before JAXA began developing the Epsilon in 2007. It aims to be capable of placing a 590 kg payload into Sun-synchronous orbit, but there are now major doubts about the initial launch timescales.