Japanese companies Space One and Space BD signed a contract with the Ministry of Defense of Japan to launch a small satellite with an optical surveillance system. The device will be built by Canon Electronics.
Running will be done with a small Kairos rocket launcher, developed Space One. Space BD will be coordinated by Space BD. This will become the first case, When Space BD concludes an individual launch agreement, previously, the company worked mainly with collective launch missions or deliveries of satellites into orbit from aboard the ISS.
Space One management emphasizes, that the initiative will contribute not only to Japan's national security, as well as the development of the commercial space industry and the sustainable use of outer space.
Despite this, the Kairos missile currently has negative launch statistics. Two previous starts ended in failure. First launch in March 2024 year was emergency stopped due to insufficient traction of the first stage immediately after the start. During the second launch in December of the same year, the rocket lost orientation a few minutes after liftoff.
A detailed analysis of the reasons for the latest failure has not yet been made public. Participants of the conference Smallsat Europe noted, that the company is preparing for a new launch, however, no exact date was given.
The Kairos rocket has four solid propellant stages and is capable of launching up to 150 kg of cargo into sun-synchronous orbit. Launches are carried out from the private spaceport Spaceport Kii in the southern part of the island of Honshu. Despite technical difficulties, Space One plans to achieve a launch frequency of up to 20 на рік до кінця цього десятиліття.
Source: https://spacenews.com/space-one-and-space-bd-to-launch-satellite-for-japanese-military/