A fire erupted on Tuesday during a combustion test of Japan’s Epsilon S rocket at the Tanegashima Space Centre in Kagoshima Prefecture.
The fire occurred while the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) was testing the second stage of the solid-fuel rocket, which was planned to last about 120 seconds. The test took place around 8:30 am local time, but the fire broke out unexpectedly, prompting swift firefighting efforts.
Fortunately, no injuries have been reported following the incident, as confirmed by local police and fire authorities.
The Epsilon S rocket is a significant part of Japan’s space exploration program and is currently under development by JAXA. This test was intended to assess the rocket’s performance, but the fire has led to a halt in proceedings as the situation is carefully evaluated.
This incident follows a similar combustion test that took place in Akita Prefecture in July 2023, which ended in an explosion due to a malfunctioning pressure vessel.
JAXA later identified that the explosion was caused by a melted ignition component, which had damaged the insulation material. After this earlier setback, JAXA took steps to implement countermeasures to prevent such issues in future tests.
The space agency is now focusing on understanding the cause of the latest fire at Tanegashima. With the Epsilon S rocket still under development, JAXA’s engineers are working to determine if any equipment malfunction or external factors contributed to the fire.
The incident raises questions about the safety protocols in place and the measures needed to prevent such occurrences during critical tests.
JAXA has yet to release further details about the exact cause of the fire, but the agency is committed to investigating the incident thoroughly to ensure the safety and success of future rocket launches.
As Japan continues to make strides in space exploration, safety remains a top priority in the testing and development of its rockets.
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