Japanese space startup aborts 2nd satellite launch attempt minutes after liftoff

TOKYO (AP) — A Japanese space startup said its second attempt to launch a rocket carrying satellites into orbit had been aborted minutes after liftoff Wednesday and destroyed itself again, nine months after the company's first launch attempt ended in an explosion.

Space One's Kairos No. 2 rocket lifted off from a coastal site in the mountainous prefecture of Wakayama in central Japan.

The company said it had aborted the flight after concluding that it was unlikely to complete its mission.

“We are very sorry that we could not achieve as far as a final stage of the mission,” Space One President Masakazu Toyoda told a news conference Wednesday. “We don't consider this a failure because we are getting valuable data that will help our pursuit toward a next challenge.”

He said he hoped to find the cause to address the problems as soon as possible to achieve a success next time.

Company executive and space engineer Mamoru Endo said the abnormality in the first stage engine nozzle or its control system is likely to have caused an unstable flight of the rocket, which started spiraling in midflight and eventually destroyed itself about three minutes after liftoff, using its autonomous safety mechanism.

The rocket, which rose higher than 100 kilometers (60 miles) above ground, entered space entered space before it was destroyed, officials said.

Space One aims to be Japan’s first company to put a satellite into orbit, hoping to boost Japan’s lagging space industry with a small rocket for an affordable space transport business.

Wednesday's flight, postponed twice from Saturday because of strong winds, came nine months after a failed debut flight in March, when the rocket was intentionally exploded five seconds after takeoff. The flight was carrying a government satellite that was intended to monitor North Korea’s missile launches and other military activities.

Kairos No. 2 rocket was carrying five small satellites, including one from the Taiwanese space agency and several from Japanese startups.

Space One said it had fixed the cause of the debut flight failure, which stemmed from a miscalculation of the rocket’s first-stage propulsion.

Japan hopes the company can pave the way for a domestic space industry that competes with the United States.

Tokyo-based Space One was set up in 2018 with investments from major Japanese companies, including Canon Electronics, IHI, Shimizu and major banks, to commercialize space delivery services at lower costs and regular flights as many as 20 times a year, compared to six currently planned by the government-led space program.

Japan’s space development programs are led by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, and industry leaders such as Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and IHI, as they develop two main flagship rockets, the large H3 rocket and the much smaller Epsilon, to cater to the growing satellite transport business.

Space One President Masakazu Toyoda reacts during a press conference after its second attempt to launch the Kairos No. 2 rocket carrying satellites into orbit had been aborted minutes after liftoff, in Kushimoto town, western Japan Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024.(Kyodo News via AP)

Space One President Masakazu Toyoda reacts during a press conference after its second attempt to launch the Kairos No. 2 rocket carrying satellites into orbit had been aborted minutes after liftoff, in Kushimoto town, western Japan Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024.(Kyodo News via AP)

Space One's Kairos No. 2 rocket, carrying satellites, is launched from Space Port Kii in Kushimoto town, western Japan Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)

Space One's Kairos No. 2 rocket, carrying satellites, is launched from Space Port Kii in Kushimoto town, western Japan Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)

Space One's Kairos No. 2 rocket, carrying satellites, is launched from Space Port Kii in Kushimoto town, western Japan Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)

People wait as the Kairos No. 2 rocket, a Japanese commercial rocket carrying a set of satellites, is scheduled to be launched from Space Port Kii in Kushimoto town, western Japan Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)

In this photo provided by the Space Port Kii Regional Council, Space One's Kairos rocket is launched from Space Port Kii in Kushimoto town, western Japan Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Space Port Kii Regional Council via AP)

The Kairos No. 2 rocket, a Japanese commercial rocket carrying a set of satellites, waits to be launched from Space Port Kii in Kushimoto town, western Japan Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)

Space One's Kairos No. 2 rocket, carrying satellites, is launched from Space Port Kii in Kushimoto town, western Japan Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)

The Kairos No. 2 rocket, a Japanese commercial rocket carrying a set of satellites, is launched from Space Port Kii in Kushimoto town, western Japan Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)

The Kairos No. 2 rocket, a Japanese commercial rocket carrying a set of satellites, is launched from Space Port Kii in Kushimoto town, western Japan Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)

Space One's Kairos No. 2 rocket, carrying satellites, is launched from Space Port Kii in Kushimoto town, western Japan Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)

The Kairos No. 2 rocket, a Japanese commercial rocket carrying a set of satellites, is launched from Space Port Kii in Kushimoto town, western Japan Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)

New York Giants (2-13) at Las Vegas (2-13)

Sunday, 4:05 p.m. EST, CBS.

BetMGM NFL Odds: Raiders by 1½.

Against the spread: Giants 6-8-1, Raiders 6-9.

Series record: Raiders lead 9-6.

Last meeting: Raiders beat Giants 30-6 on Nov. 5, 2023, at Las Vegas.

Last week: Giants lost to the Vikings 16-13; Raiders lost to the Texans 23-21.

Giants offense: overall (17), rush (7), pass (20), scoring (23).

Giants defense: overall (29), rush (31), pass (20), scoring (28).

Raiders offense: overall (32), rush (32), pass (29), scoring (32).

Raiders defense: overall (15), rush (17), pass (17), scoring (25).

Turnover differential: Giants minus-5; Raiders minus-5.

LB Brian Burns has been their best player all season, and he’s the key to the pass rush making an impact, even with Kayvon Thibodeaux on injured reserve. Burns has a career-high 15 sacks, second in the NFL to only record-chasing Myles Garrett, and has shown no signs of slowing down.

QB Geno Smith. He is tied for the league high in interceptions with 15, but over the past eight games has five picks to go with 13 touchdown passes. If he produces similar numbers over the final two games, the Raiders have a good chance to win both weeks.

Giants offensive line vs. Raiders defensive front. New York's line has struggled recently because of injuries and absences to protect QB Jaxson Dart. Maxx Crosby and the Raiders defensive front is capable of disrupting opposing offenses, and the game's outcome could be decided on how well the Giants block those defenders to give Dart time to throw as well as establish an effective running game.

Giants: LT Andrew Thomas (hamstring), C John Michael Schmitz (hand) and CB Cor’Dale Flott all are uncertain to play after getting hurt last weekend. … EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux is out for the rest of the season after going on IR because of a lingering shoulder issue.

Raiders: LT Kolton Miller (ankle) is practicing again this week, but whether he plays is yet to be decided. ... TE Brock Bowers (knee) and S Jeremy Chinn (back) were placed on season-ending injured reserve on Wednesday.

The teams have alternated winning the past four matchups. ... This is the Giants' second trip to Las Vegas in three years. The Raiders won the previous meeting. ... Be it Las Vegas, Oakland or Los Angeles, the Raiders are 6-2 at home in this series.

The Giants and Raiders have each lost nine in a row. … This is the fourth time the teams with the two outright worst records have met in the final two weeks, according to Sportradar. The previous time occurred in 1981 between the 1-14 Baltimore Colts and 2-13 New England Patriots. ... New York is 0-5 since Mike Kafka took over as interim coach following the firing of Brian Daboll. ... Giants rookie QB Jaxson Dart was 7 of 13 for 33 yards in the loss to Minnesota. All are his lowest totals among his first 10 starts in the league. His interception went off the hands of Theo Johnson. … Dart was sacked five times, which made the team’s net yards passing just 13. … Dart has thrown for three touchdowns and been picked off twice in three games since returning from concussion protocol. … WR Wan’Dale Robinson is 99 yards away from reaching 1,000 in a season for the first time in his four-year pro career. … DT Dexter Lawrence had one tackle for loss and two penalties on 52 snaps against the Vikings. … Rookie LB Abdul Carter’s offside penalty last week negated what would have been a 96-yard pick-6 by Jevon Holland. … The 16 points Minnesota scored were the fewest the Giants have allowed this season, and the defense produced their only touchdown on Burns' strip-sack of J.J. McCarthy that Tyler Nubin returned 27 yards to the end zone. ... The Raiders have a point differential of minus-169, worst in the NFL. ... DE Maxx Crosby's five straight Pro Bowl selections is second in Raiders history to P Ray Guy's six in a row. ... RB Ashton Jeanty is one of five rookies with at least five rushing and five receiving touchdowns and just the second since 1965. ... Las Vegas has committed 35 offensive penalties, second fewest in the league. The Los Angeles Chargers have committed 30. ... The Raiders have held opponents to zero or negative yards on 93 rushing plays, best in the league. Brock Bowers has 176 receptions, the highest number for any tight end through his first 29 games. His 1,874 yards receiving are third, behind Pro Football Hall of Famers Mike Ditka (1,992) and Kellen Winslow (1,920). ... A victory would give Las Vegas coach Pete Carroll 173 for his career, which would move him into a tie for 16th with Jeff Fisher. Carroll is currently tied with Bill Parcells.

RB Ashton Jeanty is coming off the best game of his rookie season with 128 yards rushing, a 51-yard touchdown run and 60-yard TD catch. Given the Giants' defense is second to last against the run, this may be an opportunity for him to build on that performance.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Jonah Laulu (96) and defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) celebrate during the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

New York Giants outside linebacker Brian Burns (0) reacts during the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)