Japan's Space One Kairos rocket explodes mid-air moments after launch

Japan's Space One's small, solid-fuelled Kairos rocket exploded shortly after launch on its inaugural trip on Wednesday as the firm tried to become the first Japanese company to put a satellite in orbit. The an 18 metre (59 ft), four-stage solid-fuel rocket exploded seconds after lifting off just after 11:01 a.m. (0201 GMT), leaving behind a large loud of smoke and a fire near the launch pad, visible on a local media livestream of the launch on the tip of Kii peninsula in western Japan.

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