Japan's space agency halts Epsilon S rocket engine test after fire

Japan's space agency has halted an engine combustion test of its Epsilon S rocket, a spokesperson said on Tuesday, after a fire broke out at the test site, 16 months after another failed engine test derailed Japan's small rocket development.

Footage from public broadcaster NHK showed a blaze breaking out shortly after the ground combustion test started at the Tanegashima Space Center in southwestern Japan, with an explosion heard as well. No damage has been reported, NHK said citing local police and fire departments.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is checking the situations at the site, the spokesperson said.

JAXA has partnered with the aerospace unit of IHI Corp to develop Epsilon S, a next-generation model of the nation's solid-fuel small rocket series Epsilon.

A previous engine test failure of the Epsilon S rocket in July 2023, together with a launch failure of the sixth Epsilon rocket in 2022, led to months of investigation that caused delays in Japan's national space missions and satellite launch plans.

Epsilon S was slated for a debut flight by the end of the current fiscal year ending in March if Tuesday's engine test was successful.

Cost-competitive rockets

JAXA's larger flagship rocket H3, built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, also failed at its first launch last year but has since succeeded in three flights this year, launching Japanese satellites and winning orders from including French satellite company Eutelsat.

H3 and Epsilon S have been JAXA's hope to build cost-competitive rockets on its own amid the rise of American commercial launch providers such as market leader SpaceX and small rocket maker Rocket Lab.