The debut of its own KAIROS rocket promises a breakthrough in Japanese space activities
On Saturday, March 9th, Japan's first private orbital launch was scheduled to take place, planned by Space One, with the debut of a small launch vehicle. The launch was planned from the company's new launch pad, but due to technical problems it was postponed. The new launch date is set for March 13th, with a window until the end of the month.
Missile system Advanced & The Instant Rocket System (KAIROS) consists of four stages: three using solid fuel and one using liquid fuel. The rocket is 18 meters high, less than 1.5 meters wide and weighs 23,000 kilograms. KAIROS is capable of delivering a 250-kilogram payload to a 500-kilometer-high low-Earth orbit with an inclination of 33 degrees, or delivering a 150-kilogram payload to a 500-kilometer-high sun-synchronous polar orbit with an inclination of 97 degrees. In size and payload capacity, it is comparable to missiles such as the Japanese H-IIA and the American Electron (before its payload capacity was increased in 2020).
The solid rocket motors for KAIROS are manufactured by Space One investor IHI Aerospace and were previously used on the Epsilon rocket developed by IHI and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). All initial stages are equipped with thrust vectoring control for precise placement in orbit. Solid rocket motors are made from carbon fiber reinforced polymers to reduce their weight.
The engines were tested at the beginning of 2022, but the start was delayed due to problems with supplies and avionics. They were originally developed by Canon Electronics, which has a stake in the company, but then the work was outsourced. Costs and weight were reduced through the use of consumer parts, including automotive parts, as well as the use of technologies based on Canon developments in the mass production of components.
Kiya Cosmodrome — is a new dedicated 15-hectare launch site on the Kii Peninsula. The spaceport was completed in 2021 and includes a launch pad, tower, control center and engine storage facilities. The spaceport is located south of Osaka in Kushimoro, in Wakayama Prefecture — the southernmost point of the island of Honshu. This location faces the sea, making it ideal for launches facing south and east.
The payload for this first launch will be a prototype «quick response» for the Government of Japan Satellite Intelligence Center (CSICE). This satellite will collect information and perform tasks similar to reconnaissance satellites of other countries. Details about the payload are limited due to confidentiality, but it is known that its mass will not exceed 100 kilograms and the optical resolution will be less than 1 meter.
Space One aims to take a new step in the Japanese space industry, draw attention to its achievements and set the stage for future missions. It is expected that in the near future the company will continue to develop and improve its launch vehicle, as well as conduct regular launches from the new Kii spaceport.
Having your own launch pad will help significantly reduce the time between signing a contract and launching customer satellites. Unlike other operators, which can spend months queuing and integrating the payload, Space One guarantees a launch in just four days after signing the contract. This period will allow Space One to promise the fastest response time in the world.
Space One was founded in 2017 and has quickly become a recognizable player in the space industry. It was renamed from New Generation Small Rocket Development Planning to Space One to better reflect its ambitions and mission. The company intends to launch rockets more often than JAXA itself, and by the end of the decade will increase the number of launches to 20 per year. This pace is important in reducing launch costs, which have been a barrier to Japan's private sector launches of small satellites, and will help develop and strengthen the domestic supply chain. The company received financial support from Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) in 2022 and established a partnership with Japanese space debris removal company Astroscale.