The Epsilon rocket No 6 takes off from the launch pad at the Uchinoura Space Center (USC) in Kimotsuki-gun, Kagoshima Prefecture on Oct 12, 2022. (STR / JIJI PRESS / AFP)
TOKYO – The Japanese space agency's Epsilon rocket failed after it was launched on Wednesday, Kyodo News and other domestic media reported.
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency sent a destruction order signal to the rocket after detecting trouble, Kyodo said
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency sent a destruction order signal to the rocket after detecting trouble, Kyodo said. Public broadcaster NHK said the signal was sent after JAXA determined that rocket was not able to fly safely.
The order came immediately after the JAXA discovered a problem with the rocket that made it unable to fly safely, according to the report.
The Epsilon-6 rocket is 26 meters long and weighs 95.6 tons, and is designed to be an improved final entry in the Epsilon series.
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It was the first failure of a major Japanese rocket launch since 2003, and the first of the Epsilon series of rockets, NHK said.