The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has stopped an engine combustion test for the second stage of the new solid-fuel Epsilon S rocket after a fire broke out at a facility in southwestern Japan.
The explosion took place at around 08:30 local time on November 26, 2024, at the Takezaki Ground Combustion Test Site within the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, according to a report by Japanese news agency Kyodo News+.
JAXA’s initial report on November 26, 2024, indicated that the combustion issue occurred approximately 49 seconds after ignition in the second-stage motor. The test was meant to last around two minutes to check the second-stage engine’s performance, but it exploded and caught fire shortly after starting.
“We are extremely sorry that we were unable to meet expectations,” Takayuki Imoto, JAXA Project Manager, said during a press conference. “We can learn from failure. We will take advantage of this opportunity to develop a more reliable rocket.”
There are no reports of injuries or damage to nearby properties, and the explosion’s exact cause is unclear. JAXA said the combustion pressure was higher than anticipated and it will continue to investigate the incident.
The engine measures 3.2 meters in length and has a diameter of 2.5 meters. It contained around 18 tons of solid fuel, which is about three tons more than the second-stage engine of the standard Epsilon rocket, according to JAXA.
The Epsilon S rocket is an upgraded version of the Epsilon, one of Japan’s main rockets, developed in collaboration with JAXA and IHI Aerospace. The second stage engine was enlarged to enhance its launch capabilities.
This was the second explosion to occur in 16 months, JAXA said. In July 2023, an engine of an Epsilon S rocket blew up about 50 seconds after it was ignited during a test.