A rocket from the start-up Space One explodes on takeoff. The rocket was supposed to place a Japanese government satellite into orbit.
The setback is a blow to Japan's ambition to play a greater role in the global space launch services market. Recently, however, the Japanese space agency Jaxa has achieved several major successes. Its new H3 heavy launcher successfully took off last month, and in January its small SLIM module landed on the Moon. Read alsoJapan successfully launches a lunar mission.