Video: Japanese rocket Epsilon S explodes during key engine test

Japan’s space exploration efforts faced a setback as the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) aborted an engine test for the Epsilon S rocket following an explosion and subsequent fire at the Tanegashima Space Center.
The incident occurred just 49 seconds after ignition during a combustion test of the rocket’s second-stage motor.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and the fire was extinguished within an hour. However, the explosion caused damage to the facility, and the cause of the malfunction remains under investigation.
This failure is likely to delay the Epsilon S rocket’s debut launch, originally targeted for the end of March 2024, further impacting Japan’s national space program.
JAXA’s Epsilon S is a next-generation solid-fuel small rocket developed in partnership with IHI Corporation, a Japanese heavy machinery maker. The recent mishap follows previous setbacks, including a failed engine test in July 2023 due to thermal damage and a launch failure of an earlier Epsilon rocket in 2022.
The incident has also affected IHI Corporation, with its shares dropping by up to 7% in Tokyo trading. An IHI Aerospace spokesperson confirmed that the company is actively investigating the cause of the explosion.
JAXA’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi emphasised the importance of rocket development for Japan’s space program autonomy and assured that a thorough investigation would be conducted to identify and address the issue.

Despite these challenges, JAXA has seen success with its larger flagship rocket, H3, which after initial failures, has successfully launched three times this year.
The H3 rocket has been instrumental in launching Japanese satellites and securing international orders, including from French satellite operator Eutelsat.
As JAXA continues to navigate these setbacks, it remains committed to developing cost-competitive rockets to compete in the global satellite launch market dominated by companies like SpaceX and Rocket Lab.