failed for the second time Wednesday to become Japan's first private firm to send a satellite into orbit as its rocket self-destructed after launch dealing a new setback to the country's ambitions to lead in the commercial space sector 2 rocket self-destructed three minutes after lifting off at 11:00 a.m Speaking at a press conference after the unsuccessful mission Space One President Masakazu Toyoda apologized to the firm's clients for "being unable to send the mission's satellites into orbit." The company said a malfunction in the operation of the three-stage rocket's first-stage nozzle caused it to deviate from its intended orientation Despite reaching an altitude of over 100 kilometers the rocket strayed from its intended safe flight path and automatically self-destructed said the firm intends to "quickly begin" work on a Kairos No 3 mission once investigations into the cause have progressed Space One said the mission was able to separate the rocket's first stage and the payload fairing The nozzle had been examined in the period immediately prior to liftoff there were no reports of injuries due to any rocket fragments falling into the sea which was originally scheduled for Saturday The rocket was carrying five satellites owned by entities including the Taiwan Space Agency and Japanese firms Space Cubics LLC and Terra Space Inc A successful deployment of the satellites would have marked a major step forward for Japan's aspirations in the space sector at a time when global demand to place satellites in orbit is growing In the Tokyo-based firm's first attempt in March the rocket exploded shortly after liftoff following the transmission of a self-destruct order It said the failure occurred due to the incorrect calculation of rocket propulsion Space One was set up in 2018 by Canon Electronics Inc. and other entities seeking to commercialize space delivery services by lowering costs and offering regular rocket launches is aiming to achieve the shortest lead times in the world with launches taking place within a year of the finalization of contracts with customers It is targeting 30 rocket launches per year by the 2030s Japanese startup Space One delays rocket launch again due to wind Japan startup Space One postpones rocket launch due to wind Japan rocket engine explodes during test, 2nd time in 16 months To have the latest news and stories delivered to your inbox Simply enter your email address below and an email will be sent through which to complete your subscription Please check your inbox for a confirmation email Thank you for reaching out to us.We will get back to you as soon as possible The smoke trail from a Kairos rocket by Tokyo-based startup Space One shows the vehicle's tumbling motion after its launch at the company's Spaceport Kii launch pad in Kushimoto It was the second failure of the Kairos 2 rocket this year Japanese startup Space One lost another rocket today (Dec 18) when its Kairos 2 launch vehicle failed shortly after liftoff Space One was aiming to be the first private Japanese company to put a satellite into orbit with the Kairos 2 rocket local time today from Space Port Kii in Kushimoto the 59-foot-tall (18 meters) rocket began tumbling Space One terminated the flight some three minutes into the flight at an altitude of 62 miles (100 kilometers) after detecting anomalies in the rocket's first-stage engines and trajectory. The rocket was carrying five satellites developed by Japanese commercial firms high school students and a Taiwanese company Space One issued a statement following the failure "We would like to apologize to our customers and to all those involved in the launch for not being able to complete the mission and we deeply regret that we were unable to meet the expectations of all those who supported us," a company press release read "Space One will determine the cause of the incident as quickly as possible and attempt the launch again contributing to the further expansion of the space business by providing launch services using small rockets."  —  Japan's 1st commercial rocket explodes shortly after liftoff (video)  — New Japanese rocket engine explodes during testing for 2nd time in 16 months  — Japan's new H3 rocket fails on 1st test flight, advanced Earth observation satellite lost The Kairos rocket now has two launches under its belt, both of them failures. In March 2024, Space One lost its first Kairos rocket shortly after it left the launch pad when its flight termination system detected a velocity anomaly No personnel or facilities were harmed in the explosion but debris was strewn throughout the launch site Space One's Kairos rocket features three solid-fuel stages and a liquid propellant upper stage. It was designed to carry payloads up to 550 pounds (250 kilograms) into low Earth orbit filling a gap in Japan's current competitiveness in the space launch market Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com. Space.comBrett is curious about emerging aerospace technologies military space developments and uncrewed aircraft systems Brett's work has appeared on Scientific American Brett has English degrees from Clemson University and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte Brett enjoys skywatching throughout the dark skies of the Appalachian mountains NASA has used the US military for astronaut rescue for decades New US Space Force documentary 'Always Above' lands in planetariums Your browser does not support JavaScript, or it is disabled．Please check the site policy for more information Tokyo-based startup Space One Co.'s second attempt to launch a rocket to propel it into the space-delivery service business failed shortly after the Kairos 2 lifted off around 11 a.m The company suspended the small rocket's flight some 10 minutes after launch from Space Port Kii in Kushimoto No private Japanese company has successfully sent a satellite into space via rocket Space One's first attempt in March with its inaugural Kairos rocket ended abruptly when it exploded five seconds after launch The second December launch was postponed twice due to strong winds “We want to contribute to the development of the space industry by launching a highly convenient satellite," said Masakazu Toyoda at a news conference at the end of November leading up to the Kairos 2's launch "All of us are determined to make it successful this time.”  The satellites on the Kairos 2 were built by Terra Space another venture based in Kyoto Prefecture; a Taiwanese space institute; and high school students from Hiroo Gakuen in Tokyo One also featured a Buddha statue as a "space temple." This three-stage solid-fuel rocket is a new creation from Space One It developed it with technical cooperation from IHI Aerospace Co. producer of Japan’s flagship rocket Epsilon; Canon Electronics Inc. which makes rocket systems equipment; and other investors the roughly 18-meter-tall rocket with a diameter of 1.4 meters would have burned through its booster engines to ascend to an altitude of around 500 kilometers The rocket would next shoot out five small satellites into orbit about 54 minutes after liftoff Space One announced that the cause of the March liftoff's failure was that “the rocket judged that the speed immediately after launch was slower than predicted and detonated on its own.” The company explained that it was the predictive technology's method that was at fault and that there was no problem with the rocket itself The Cabinet Secretariat's small satellite that was aboard cost approximately 1.1 billion yen ($7.2 million) to develop fell to the ground before it plummeted back to Earth While the cost of launching the Kairos has not been disclosed 1 billion yen is the average price tag to launch a small rocket Space One is not the only private venture with its eyes on the stars a small rocket named Momo developed by Interstellar Technologies Inc. This was a first for Japan's private rocket companies the launch of small and relatively low-cost satellites has increased rapidly as the space business expands 2,368 satellites jetted into space in 2022 an increase of about 11 times over the past decade or so there are not enough rockets to carry them company SpaceX that does more than 100 rocket launches a year they are inconvenient to transport satellites because those who wish to make them carry their satellites have long waits while these rockets are being developed and also there are many other satellites that are waiting for the rockets The large rockets were also inconvenient because they sometimes cannot put satellites into the most suitable orbits The cost to launch aboard these large rockets is relatively inexpensive but the inconvenience is similar to that of a bus there is a need for small rockets that can be launched at a high frequency in a small turnaround time They can be launched at any time as a dedicated flight for their own satellites without waiting Even though the unit launch cost is high for satellite operators and store than the liquid fuel used in large rockets The company invited engineers from companies that had been involved in the development of Japanese rockets The company has also established its own launch site the southernmost tip of the main Japanese archipelago Space One is aiming to launch its rocket 20 times a year by the end of 2020s to lower the unit cost of launches Hokkaido town seeks economic liftoff through new spaceport of double standards for letting South Korea launch spy satellite from US soil New flagship H-3 rocket buoys Japan’s hope in global space race China's LandSpace readies satellite launch with methane-fueled rocket Information on the latest cherry blossom conditions Please right click to use your browser’s translation function.) A series based on diplomatic documents declassified by Japan’s Foreign Ministry Here is a collection of first-hand accounts by “hibakusha” atomic bomb survivors chefs and others involved in the field of food introduce their special recipes intertwined with their paths in life A series about Japanese-Americans and their memories of World War II In-house News and Messages No reproduction or republication without written permission Today's print edition Home Delivery Japanese firm Space One decided to push back the launch of the second unit of its Kairos small rocket scheduled for Sunday following another postponement the previous day Sunday's postponement was due to strong winds according to the Tokyo-based company.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); was initially slated to be launched Saturday from the firm's Spaceport Kii liftoff site in Kushimoto But the launch was canceled due to strong winds and had been put off to Sunday the rocket was scheduled to be launched from the site at 11 a.m In a time of both misinformation and too much information quality journalism is more crucial than ever.By subscribing Your subscription plan doesn't allow commenting. To learn more see our FAQ Sponsored contents planned and edited by JT Media Enterprise Division please disable the ad blocking feature and reload the page This website uses cookies to collect information about your visit for purposes such as showing you personalized ads and content By clicking “Accept all,” you will allow the use of these cookies Users accessing this site from EEA countries and UK are unable to view this site without your consent announced Saturday that it had postponed the launch of the No due to strong winds at its launch site in Kushimoto The Tokyo-based space startup analyzed the weather and concluded that the winds above the launch site were too strong for the rocket to be launched According to the Japan Meteorological Agency the Kinki region experienced strong winds from the northwest due to a midwinter pressure pattern with gusts of up to 17.8 meters per second at 7:50 a.m A strong wind warning was issued for the entire prefecture 1 Kairos rocket exploded shortly after the liftoff and other improvements were made to the No 2 rocket was carrying five small satellites and planned to release them at an altitude of about 500 kilometers about 53 minutes after launch Successful orbital insertion would be a first for a privately developed rocket in Japan Space One was established in 2018 to commercialize space transport services and frequently send small satellites into space Space One has set a target of launching 30 small rockets a year in the 2030s Our weekly ePaper presents the most noteworthy recent topics in an exciting © 2025 The Japan News - by The Yomiuri Shimbun Please view the main text area of the page by skipping the main menu. The page may not be displayed properly if the JavaScript is deactivated on your browser We use cookies to analyze user behavior in order to constantly improve the website for you. Learn more 2021) - Kushimoto Town Tourist Association announces new tourist attractions Though the many cultural and geographic highlights of Honshu Island (the main island) of Japan are famous if you ask even a knowledgeable person what is the southernmost point of the island The answer is the hidden gem of a township called Kushimoto in Wakayama prefecture In addition to being a beach paradise studded with alluring and unusual rock formations Kushimoto has a myriad of attractions and historical points of interest The area holds some fascinating international history much of which makes it especially welcoming to people from outside Japan Beach: Kushimoto Tourism a Japanese businessman who lived and worked in the Philippines for over 20 years decided to move his multi-cultural family to the Kushimoto area "People here have a known history of more than 1,000 years of welcoming foreigners There are even legends that messengers came from Chinese emperors looking for medicine from plants to give eternal life," he relates "have had a long relationship with people outside of this seashore." Indeed some of the stories of these contacts are awe-inspiring in their far-reaching impact The Kushimoto area can roughly be broken down to three areas the latter of which is a picturesque isle that runs parallel to the Cape Shionnomisaki coastline of the mainland All of these areas are studded with dramatic rock formations caused by volcanic eruptions millions of years ago One impressive example is the Ichimai Iwa standing stone a 100-meter tall megalith that is the largest above ground monolith in Japan It's a breathtaking sight and it is just one of the natural wonders in the national park These include the Umikongo rock formations and Odaigahara and Osugidani gorges The spectacular geological creations continue on the coast of Kushimoto Right off the shores of the main beach park in the town are the Hashigui standing rocks They make dramatic viewing as one swims in the protected waters of this calm bay Rock Formations: Kushimoto Tourism Kushimoto has a more technological claim to fame as well In March 2019 the space exploration firm Space One chose the town as the site of its new rocket launch base Construction has begun and a rocket launch is planned for the end of 2021 or early 2022 Director of the Planning Department of the Kushimoto Town government explains that the town was chosen for three reasons: it is the southernmost point of Honshu island; there are no buildings or people around the launch point; and there is easy access from the factory in Honshu "Townspeople welcome and support the rocket launch site We are holding workshops for school students and locals on space We are committed to locals gaining a great understanding of the technology." The director says the Wakayama Prefectural Government estimates the area of Kushimoto will see a 67 billion yen (about $630 million) economic boon from the project Tourists are expected to stream in to see the launch Space One: Kushimoto Tourism In addition to striking geological formations those tourists will be attracted to the many museums and deep cultural history of Kushimoto Two episodes that stand out are the visit of American merchant ships in 1791 and the rescue of Turkish sailors in 1890 In a striking and little known historical incident 1791 and spent about six days in Japanese territory Accounts say at first the Japanese were wary but before long they boarded the vessels and enjoyed food and drink with the multi-cultural crew (white and black Americans This is thought to be the very first contact between Japanese and Americans and an informative bilingual museum celebrates the meeting The story is told there in great detail with many historical documents and artifacts Another maritime incident that puts Kushimoto on the map occurred in 1890 The Turkish ship Ertugrul had made a friendship voyage to Japan 1890 a storm forced it near shore and it went down on rocks only 30 meters off of Oshima island Some crew made it to the nearby Kashinozaki lighthouse (which happens to be the first stone lighthouse in Japan) and summoned help from the townspeople who rushed into the ocean and pulled more the 60 Turkish seamen from the raging waters This heroic action has led to a long-lasting friendship between the two countries and a museum and statue of Kamal Ataturk to commemorate the incident Another museum is well worth a visit in Kushimoto Inside the tranquil and picturesque Muryo-ji Temple is the Kushimoto Okyo Rosetsu Art Museum This small museum houses work by two famous artists of the Edo era (1603-1868) The buildings of the shrine also showcase priceless works of art on fusuma (Japanese sliding doors) done by Okyo Maruyama Temple: Kushimoto Tourism lays the most charming place to spend the night in Kushimoto The Nipponia Hotel is a spectacular structure renovated from an old Japanese Minka The building and grounds retain all the charm of old Japan with luxurious touches like a huge soaking bath and comfy lounge chairs Hotel: Kushimoto Tourism make Kushimoto a destination like no other Kushimoto town Tourist Associationhttps://ssl.cypress.ne.jp/kankou-kushimoto.jp/english/sub03.html Yohino-Kumano National Parkhttps://www.env.go.jp/en/nature/nps/park/yoshino/guide/view.html Japan-Turkish Friendship Museumhttps://en.visitwakayama.jp/venues/venue_834/ Kushimoto Okyo Rosetsu Art Museumhttps://muryoji.jp/museum/about/index.html Nipponia Hotelhttps://nipponia-kushimoto.jp/ Published in partnership with Honest Media, LLCinfo@honestmedia.comwww.honestmedia.com1 (212)-256-0315 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/75071 SOURCE: Honest Media , LLC Sign Up Company Profile Multimedia/Internet/Online Services A space startup plans to launch its second rocket in December after the first one exploded immediately after liftoff in March identified the cause of the explosion and concluded it can resume the launch of its small rocket Kairos The second attempt will also be made from Space Port Kii in Kushimoto who spoke at a space symposium organized by the Wakayama prefectural government He added that detailed schedules will be announced later The inaugural Kairos was expected to become Japan’s first private-sector rocket to send an artificial satellite into orbit the rocket exploded five seconds after liftoff from Space Port Kii on March 13 and broke into pieces with the Cabinet Secretariat’s satellite it was carrying The Kairos means the “Kii-based Advanced and Instant Rocket System,” according to Tokyo-based Space One Explosion cuts short planned first commercial satellite launch Site planned for nuclear plant to host launch pad for small rockets Public high school to offer nation’s 1st space course China says remains of rocket booster fall to Earth An enchanting festival unfolded on January 27 at Cape Shionomisaki, the southernmost tip of Honshu in Kushimoto town, Wakayama Prefecture Approximately 100,000 square meters of Boro no Shiba ("watchtower lawn") overlooking the Pacific Ocean were set ablaze members of the local Kushimoto Koza High School archery club initiated the event by launching flaming arrows into the air toward the field promoted by the local tourism association as Honshu's Southernmost Fire Festival it aims to eliminate pests by burning the old grass Visitors also enjoyed purchasing local products and watching dance performances to the approximately 800 people in attendance (Read the article in Japanese.)Author: The Sankei Shimbun You must be logged in to post a comment ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " WAKAYAMA ― A ceremony to remember the victims of a sunken Turkish naval ship was held in the Kashino district of Kushimoto The Turkish naval ship Ertugrul sank off the coast of Kushimoto in September 1890 during a storm while returning from Yokohama after paying a courtesy visit to Emperor Meiji A total of 587 crew members were killed in the incident but 69 survived thanks to rescue efforts by local residents leading to the foundation of friendly relations between Japan and Turkey The ceremony coincided with a goodwill visit from the Turkish naval ship Kinaliada which docked in Kushimoto to mark the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations who is president of the Japan-Turkey Society and Turkish Ambassador to Japan Korkut Gungen were among 130 who attended Princess Akiko said “I hope the relationship between Japan and Turkey last for many more years to come.” Attendees offered flowers to a memorial stone and students from the town’s Oshima Elementary School who are involved in cleaning the stone sang a locally-known elegy Gungen said that the cornerstone of the relationship between the two countries is that they have come through difficult times by supporting each other adding that he hopes to maintain a close relationship satellite-carrying rocket exploded Wednesday moments after liftoff from a spaceport in western Japan dealing a setback to the company's aspirations of becoming the first private Japanese firm to place a satellite into orbit The company's 18-meter-long Kairos rocket failed in its launch from Space Port Kii in Kushimoto It was announced shortly after that "flight termination measures" had been safely implemented Local firefighters were dispatched to the scene Police said there have been no reports of casualties so far The rocket exploded midair around five seconds after liftoff as fragments believed to be from the projectile were scattered around the area and the scene was blanketed by white smoke "We sincerely apologize for not living up to expectations," said Space One President Masakazu Toyoda at a press conference "Space One refuses to use the word 'failure,' as we believe that we can gain new data and experiences through each and every attempt." The company said it had set up a task force to investigate the cause of the failure The government satellite on the rocket is believed to have been destroyed in the blast The cries of the many people gathered at an observation venue located approximately 2 kilometers southwest of Space Port Kii could be heard upon the announcement that the launch had failed a 17-year-old high school student who aspires to a space-related career but I hope they persevere and don't give up." The launch was initially scheduled for Saturday but was delayed after the company discovered the presence of a ship in a section of the ocean it had designated as needing to be empty for safety According to the Cabinet Satellite Intelligence Center the satellite on board the rocket was meant to perform some of the functions of an existing government satellite in monitoring military facilities in North Korea seeks to commercialize space delivery services by lowering costs and offering rocket launches at high frequency It aims to send into space 30 rockets a year by the 2030s The company is aiming for short lead times of launches less than one year after concluding contracts with customers "We believe that to complete all of our missions is the truest way to contribute to the local community," Toyoda said adding that Space One will not change its plans for putting satellites into space The company was set up by Canon Electronics Inc. and the government-owned Development Bank of Japan initially set to take place by the end of March 2022 at the latest were postponed four times due to the pandemic and logistics delays Rocket launch by private Japanese firm Space One postponed Japan startup launches satellite on mission to monitor space debris Japan successfully launches new H3 rocket a year after failure It is often said that the strongest of friendships are forged during the hardest of times as it did with Japan and Turkey in September 1890 Japan and Turkey forged a friendship that has lasted over 125 years I was unaware of this connection until recent years While planning for my second vacation in Japan I discovered that there was a Turkish memorial and museum on the southernmost tip of Japan’s main island To say that I was surprised would be an understatement I felt that I needed to travel to Kushimoto to learn more the Ottoman navy ship Ertuğrul was sent from Turkey to Japan on a goodwill voyage to improve relations between the two countries the ship was caught in the midst of a typhoon and tragically collided with rocks on the coast of Oshima a small island connected to Kushimoto by bridge The tragedy resulted in the loss of 533 sailors and officers There were only 69 survivors who lived to tell the tale The people of Oshima tried to save as many of the Turkish survivors as possible and even shared the town’s very limited food supplies with them There was a strong feeling of empathy towards the survivors not only from the people of Oshima but from the Japanese public which would lay the foundation for the friendship between Japan and Turkey that continues to this day the day finally came for me to visit Oshima 30-minute journey from Osaka to Kushimoto in Wakayama prefecture but luckily the trip was very comfortable — thanks to Japan’s reliable rail network When I first arrived at Kushimoto train station I noticed that there was Turkish writing all over the ticket machines and around the station I also noticed a large permanent banner that translated to “Turkey Friendship City” and a replica of the Turkish ship Ertuğrul It turns out that Kushimoto has become a sister city of both Yakakent and Mersin in Turkey I couldn’t wait to tell my friends and family Next to the station there was a tourist information center where I was greeted by a friendly team wearing polo tops with both the Japanese and Turkish flags side by side I felt a real sense of pride when I saw the two flags together I started to appreciate the seriousness of the bond between these two countries Outside the tourist information center there was a shuttle bus service that took me straight to the Turkish memorial and museum approximately 45 minutes away from Kushimoto’s train station I was surprised to see that even the streets had Turkish names Alongside the museum was a memorial to those who had lost their lives aboard the Ertuğrul There was also a statue of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk the founder and first president of the republic of Turkey there was a Turkish gift shop that sold many popular souvenirs that you would expect to find in Turkey I was greeted in Turkish and given an English language guide of each of the articles inside the museum by a very friendly Japanese lady who worked there I noticed that there was a viewpoint where I could see the very rocks that caused the wreckage on that fateful night The museum was very well-put-together and did justice to all of those aboard the Ertuğrul But it also told the story of another chapter in the history of Japan and Turkey’s relationship Turkey would have an opportunity to help out a friend in need “all aircraft that fly above Iran will be the objects of Iraqi attacks.” This led countries with citizens in Iran to send their own airlines to rescue their citizens before the 48-hour deadline Japan Airlines required a confirmation of safe passage from Iran and Iraq before they would send a plane Japan was not able to send a plane to rescue its citizens The Japanese embassy in Tehran reached out to many countries for help sending a plane to Iran to rescue the stranded Japanese citizens there was some confusion as to why Turkey was the one to help Japan The Turkish government then released the following statement: “We have not forgotten the rescue of the sailors aboard Ertuğrul once we heard there were Japanese citizens in need of help You’re probably thinking this all sounds like a movie, right? Well, in 2015 a Turkish and a Japanese director cooperated to make the movie called Ertuğrul 1890 in Turkish and Kainan 1890 in Japanese (both available with English subtitles) The movie starts by telling the story of Ertuğrul and concludes by depicting the events that occurred in Tehran It was truly fascinating for me to see the portrayal of both Turkish and Japanese culture on screen and I would highly recommend anyone who finds this story fascinating to watch the movie the friendship between Japan and Turkey is still strong The tale of Ertuğrul is even taught in junior high school history textbooks across Japan Tourism from Japan to Turkey has increased significantly in recent years with Cappadocia being one of the most popular destinations Both countries have worked together on mega projects a rail transportation project linking Istanbul’s European side to the Asian side by going underneath the Bosporus (a narrow strait that connects the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara) There have been moments during my time in Japan where someone asks me where I am from they proceed to tell me the very story about the friendship that I have told you today one thing stands true: an act of kindness inspires kindness I hope that this story can serve as a reminder to us all You must be logged in to post a comment Wakayama–The first launch of the KAIROS rocket developed by Space One Co exploded immediately after its launch at around 11 a.m blew up a few seconds after launch in Kushimoto “The launch has been terminated,” the Tokyo-based space startup announced after the launch failure “We’re currently investigating the details.” At a press conference on Wednesday afternoon an official for Space One said the Kairos rocket self-destructed autonomously about five seconds after launch with the engine ignited after some kind of anomaly was detected in the rocket body “We deeply apologize for not meeting people’s expectations,” said Space One President Masakazu Toyoda at the press conference at a hotel in Wakayama Prefecture “We’ll investigate the cause and take on the next challenge Toyoda said the company will establish a task force he will head to investigate the cause of the problem and prevent a similar incident The 18-meter-tall rocket burns solid fuel for propulsion and was carrying a small satellite for the Cabinet Satellite Intelligence Center If it had succeeded in sending the satellite into orbit it would have been a first for a rocket developed independently by a private Japanese company The satellite was meant to separate from the rocket about 50 minutes after liftoff and the satellite was to orbit an altitude of about 500 kilometers controls for the Kairos rocket are automated and the rocket can self-destruct automatically in the event of an anomaly The rocket’s launch was initially scheduled for March 9 but was cancelled due to a ship being in a restricted maritime area near the launch site Space One increased the number of vessels conducting surveillance in the vicinity to prevent ships from approaching the restricted area Space One was founded in 2018 with investments from IHI Aerospace Co. IHI Aerospace was involved in the development of the 25-meter-long Epsilon and this technology was also used for the development of the Kairos rocket Space One aims to offer a “space delivery service” that makes frequent trips to send small satellites into space It has set a target of launching 20 rockets per year in the late 2020s and 30 per year in the 2030s the southernmost town on the island of Honshu Satellite launches in Japan have been led by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and other government bodies space startup Interstellar Technologies Inc became the first private company in Japan to send a small rocket into space — reaching an altitude of 100 kilometers or more — but it was not carrying a satellite This aerial photo shows Belize-registered cargo ship Xin Hai 99 after a collision off of Kushimoto Wakayama prefecture in southwestern Japan on Saturday TOKYO — A Japanese chemical tanker ship crashed into a cargo ship off the coast of southwestern Japan No one was injured among the six Japanese crew members aboard the tanker Ryoshinmaru and 14 Chinese crew members aboard the Belize-registered cargo ship Xin Hai 99 The crash early Saturday was under investigation and both ships were anchored in the area about 3.5 kilometers (2.2 miles) off the coast of Wakayama prefecture according to a Kushimoto Coast Guard official Some oil leaked from the engine area of the cargo ship The tanker had left Kobe port to pick up chemicals from another Japanese port and did not have any chemicals on board at the time of the accident Divers were sent to the scene and GPS records pursued to determine the cause of the accident The Chinese crew told the coast guard the tanker had suddenly veered toward them Become an NPR sponsor National Report Wakayama Prefecture--A high school here will become the first publicly run school in the nation to offer a course devoted to space studies Its aim is to nurture talented minds who will play a prominent role in the space industry in the future The course at the prefecture-run Kushimoto Koza Senior High School will start from the academic year starting in April 2024 It will be open to students from across the country Kushimoto hosts the nation’s first private-sector launch pad for small rockets The first launch is scheduled for the end of this year The space course will be set up as part of the general course The school is still working out details of its curriculum content and admission quota But it is planning to invite staff members from Space One Co. and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to serve as instructors in addition to offering specialized subjects on the mysteries of deep space and how rockets work the school will provide lectures about space as part of its “integrated studies” program from the next academic year and add “space” as an elective from the following year It is also keen for its students to participate in space-related events hosted by the prefectural government It will consist of a building housing mission control as well as the launch pad itself and other facilities Space One is scheduled to launch its first rocket in late 2022 The company set an annual goal of launching 20 rockets each 18 meters tall and capable of carrying a small satellite The prefectural government expects the town to grow into a hub for the space industry in the future “We welcome space boys from across the country,” Wakayama Governor Yoshinobu Nisaka said during a regular news conference where he made the announcement “We hope to attract children interested in space and related science technology and develop their knowledge.” He voiced his hopes that the school will provide the impetus for Kushimoto to become an industrial center where students can work after they become fully qualified in their chosen fields China begins construction of its fifth rocket launch site expert suggest Iranian space launch coming Rocket in place to send 3 crew to Chinese space station Chinese rocket debris set for re-entry by early Sunday--U.S Tianzhou-2 cargo spacecraft docks with China's space station module Massive boulders strewn around a scenic natural rock formation called the Hashigui-iwa Rocks in the Pacific coastal town of Kushimoto are likely vestiges of gigantic tsunami that occurred in the distant past Researchers from the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) and other institutions said the boulders offer strong evidence of catastrophic seismic activity in the Nankai Trough a roughly 4-kilometer depression on the seabed that extends about 700 kilometers from Suruga Bay off Shizuoka Prefecture on the main island of Honshu to eastern Kyushu which literally means “bridge pillar rocks,” consists of more than 40 rock pillars of varying sizes arranged in a straight line that stretch for nearly a kilometer The sightseeing site is designated as a national natural monument by the central government The researchers studied the location and size of 1,103 boulders scattered at distances of 15 meters or more landward from the rock pillars The boulders measure between 60 or so centimeters in size and slightly shy of 6 meters They weigh between 100 kilograms and around 85 tons Simulations suggest the boulders were brought ashore by incredibly powerful tsunami in the distant past The theory was bolstered by a finding that roughly 4 to 20 percent of the boulders would have stayed put during the sort of tsunami that was likely spawned by the magnitude-8.6 Hoei Earthquake of 1707 The Hoei Earthquake was believed to have been the largest among Nankai Trough quakes in history The presence of the boulders suggests they were swept there during major tsunami events generated by unknown earthquakes greater in scale than the Hoei disaster “We are the first to have demonstrated that the boulders were likely taken there during tsunami events,” said Yuichi Namegaya an AIST senior researcher and leading member of the research team who is an expert in paleoseismology and paleotsunami to study fossil shellfish attached to the boulders and other materials to find out when those tsunami events struck,” Namegaya added “The data will help us to estimate the occurrence probabilities and recurrence intervals of hugely powerful Nankai Trough earthquakes.” The research results were published in (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0040195122002815) Tsunami deposits reveal ancient megaquakes that struck Japan Experts: Kyushu temblor unlikely to trigger Nankai megaquake more localities move facilities to higher ground The Board of Selectmen presented to the President of the Wareham Historical Society challenge coins created for Dunham's upcoming trip to Kushimoto Dunham will be visiting the Japanese town as a goodwill ambassador in November. The trip will cap a year of festivities that celebrated the 225th anniversary of Wareham’s own Captain John Kendrick making landfall in Kushimoto. Kendrick’s journey occurred nearly 60 years before U.S. Commodore Matthew Perry used gunboat diplomacy to force trade with isolationist Japan in 1853. After much deliberation, Dunham and the board decided on challenge coins to bring to officials in Kushimoto as gifts. On one side of the coin is the seal of Wareham: it reads Nepinnae Kekit (meaning "summer home') and a picture of a Wampanoag Indian in a canoe with the town's date of establishment, 1739, at the bottom. The other side of the coin reads "Wareham Historical Commission" around the outer edge with pictures of cranberries and the town seal. The Board of Selectmen approved the acceptance of applications for beverage carts. "A beverage cart is specific for golf courses and it's allowed to sell between the holes and at the holes... only on the course itself and at the clubhouse," said Selectman Patrick Tropeano. "Everybody does it." According to Selectman Peter Teitelbaum, if the course crosses public ways, none can cross the public way with containers of alcohol. Chair Judith Whiteside said the request was made by businesses. It was approved unanimously. “This station has become a very special place for me,” Matsuo said. “I hope many people will come to see the artwork.” As an aspiring artist who had drawn for many years, Matsuo began her creative activities in earnest in 2015 under the name “Artist: Matsuo” after working as a company employee and at other jobs. She began painting the Kii-Arita Station the following year while participating in Kinokuni Trainart, a JR West art event featuring the Kisei Line. Matsuo was unfamiliar with Kushimoto but was taken by the beauty of the town’s seascapes while snorkelling. During her dives, she saw colonies of table corals on the seabed in the clear waters and colourful tropical fish swimming gracefully around the coral. “It was amazing. I didn’t know such scenery existed in Wakayama Prefecture,” Matsuo said. Matsuo sojourned in the town on four occasions for one month each time until 2021 to paint the station as part of the Trainart event. The work, titled “E? Konna tokoro ni konna eki?” (What? This station in this place?), turns nearly the entire station – including the ceiling, flooring of the waiting room, platform, and interior and exterior walls – into her canvas. The paintings feature an abundance of natural scenes, such as the vast ocean and deep green mountains. Using water-based paint in blue and green hues, Matsuo incorporated many motifs featuring her favourite shape: the circle. Feeling that the work was not quite complete, Matsuo stayed in Kushimoto for about a month from September to finish it, even though the Trainart event ended last year. “I can finally call it finished,” Matsuo said. After the work was done, she held live painting performances at Kushimoto Marine Park, which is near the station. Over the course of three weeks, she painted sea creatures and other subjects on a 2x2.5 metre canvas. The painting will be on display until January 31. “I honed my skills painting [the station],” she said. “I hope [my artwork] will help promote the station as well as the charms of Kushimoto.” DPU trains 98 game designers to promote Thai-made games as new soft power NEPC sets electricity price cap at 3.99 baht per unit until end of 2025 RTAF scrambles F-16s to intercept aircraft near Thai-Myanmar border More troops deployed to deep South following surge in violence, says PM 13 still missing as search continues at collapsed building in Bangkok Commodore Matthew Perry used gunboat diplomacy to force trade with isolationist Japan in 1853 Wareham’s own Captain John Kendrick arrived on the island nation’s shore April 29 marked the 225th anniversary that Kendrick and his crew made landfall in Kushimoto giving him the likely distinction of being the first American official to meet the Japanese the author of Kendrick’s biography and officials from Kushimoto conducted a two-hour press conference via Skype on April 28 it was announced that new information related to Kendrick’s visit had come to light – a first-person account that chronicled the event The discovery occurred after Hayato Sakurai an advisory curator for a museum in Kushimoto contacted the Wareham Historical Society last October Historical Society President Angela Dunham said Sakurai was interested in celebrating the 225th anniversary of the visit “We began efforts to link up communications between schools in Kushimoto and Wareham,” said Dunham Ridley’s discovery of a rare American document that contains a day-by-day record of Kendrick’s ten-day visit.” Ridley and Sakurai put together a new book on the visit “It was a daring event not only for Kendrick and his friend Captain William Douglass and their crews but for the people from the villages around Kushimoto as well,” Ridley said Japan had been a closed nation for more than 150 years During that time trade was limited to the Dutch who were only allowed to dock one ship per year in Nagasaki The strict policy kept foreigners out and the Japanese people isolated “It would take more than sixty years before Commodore Matthew Perry appeared at Tokyo Bay,” Ridley said “Kendrick’s visit was the first American contact and foreshadowed what would happen.” The Kendrick house is located at 100 Main St Dunham said after Kendrick was killed by British cannon fire at Honolulu in 1794 She said Japanese officials are considering redesigning their Friendship Museum as a replica of the Kendrick House “We are also talking about doing a shared celebration in the near future,” Dunham said “It’s wonderful the way history is still alive and creates these bonds.” 2 Kairos rocket’s Wednesday launch ended in failure mid-flight said it made the decision to terminate the mission shortly after the rocket left its launchpad at Space Port Kii in Kushimoto This is the second rocket failure for the company after the No 1 Kairos rocket exploded shortly after liftoff on March 13 The Tokyo-based startup said first engine of the 18-meter rocket was scheduled to detach about two minutes after the launch followed by the section at the top of the rocket covering the satellite the company determined it was unfeasible to continue the flight and announced its termination at about 11:10 a.m The company is confirming the details of the situation 2 Kairos rocket was carrying five small satellites from the Taiwan Space Agency and others “I apologize for not completing the mission to the end,” Masakazu Toyoda He also expressed his intention for a third launch: “We want to investigate the cause [of the launch failure] as soon as possible and move on to the next challenge Space One will keep moving forward without stalling.” It is also equipped with a system that automatically destroys the rocket if an anomaly is detected The rocket was planned to release satellites at an altitude of about 500 kilometers about 53 minutes after launch Successful orbital insertion would have been a first for a privately developed rocket in Japan a problem in the thrust settings was found and measures were taken to revise the settings for the No Wakayama Prefecture--A site originally envisaged for a nuclear power plant is now on course to become the nation’s first private-sector launch pad for small rockets The launch pad will soon take shape on land partly donated by Kansai Electric Power Co after the company scrapped plans for the nuclear plant nearly two decades ago Local officials hold out hopes the space project will help revitalize this town at the southern tip of the Honshu main island Kushimoto Mayor Katsumasa Tashima says the town owned a tract of land large enough for the construction of the launch pad thanks to a plot of land donated by the utility “We appreciate the fact the nuclear plant did not get built,” he said we might have gained from nuclear-related businesses but we would have missed out on the opportunity to promote the charms of our town.” A building that houses mission control for the launch pad stands near the tip of the Kii Peninsula where National Route 42 runs along the jagged “riasu” Pacific coastline A banner featuring a photo of a rocket is seen nearby is being built by Tokyo-based Space One Co. whose shareholders include Canon Electronics Inc. the Development Bank of Japan and construction company Shimizu Corp Space One plans to launch its first satellite-carrying rocket by the end of March with the aim of 20 launches annually in the mid-2020s Satellite images of Earth will be analyzed to support business activities Kushimoto will be promoted as a “rocket town” to attract visitors who want to watch rocket launches The town office is also providingsss opportunities for children attending elementary school and junior high school to learn about the space industry The rocket business is expected to bring in economic benefits worth 67 billion yen ($585 million) in tourism and related industries in 10 years according to Wakayama prefectural government estimates the town office leased about 1.3 million square meters of land to Space One at no cost for 20 years after accepting a proposal to build the launch pad The leased land includes a plot totaling 298,000 square meters that Kansai Electric donated to the town in 2006 and 2017 the plot includes forested areas the company had purchased for its nuclear project the utility viewed the Kii Peninsula as a second hub for nuclear power generation next to Fukui Prefecture and selected candidate sites for nuclear plants including the town of Koza (present-day Kushimoto) the Koza town assembly adopted a resolution for attracting a nuclear plant Real estate records show that Kansai Electric started purchasing forested and residential areas from 1969 The town was split over the decision to attract a nuclear plant and an anti-nuclear mayor was elected in 1983 Following the 1986 Chernobyl disaster in the former Soviet Union the town assembly adopted a resolution against the construction in 1990 Kansai Electric abandoned the nuclear project in 2003 “We had no prospect of building a plant there due to the tough business environment caused by a prolonged slump in electricity demand among other reasons,” a company representative said Kansai Electric said the company had no use for the land anymore when it donated it “We decline to comment on particular parcels of land because it could make it difficult for us to go about our business,” the company representative said had been opposed to the nuclear project since the late 1960s They supported the anti-nuclear mayor’s campaign and took part in demonstration marches The couple did research on nuclear power generation and concluded fishermen will not be able to make a living off of the bounties of the sea if warm wastewater is discharged from a nuclear plant “We can’t expect too much from rockets to bring benefits to the town but it is heartening to see that a nuclear plant has not been built leaving a future for children to learn about space,” Kayoko said By Masaki Fukunaga / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer Japan’s oldest such structure constructed with stone holds a special place in history for helping to nurture Japan’s early exchanges with Turkey and the United States At the southernmost point of Japan’s main island Honshu is the picturesque Cape Shionomisaki The easternmost point of this island is where the Kashinozaki Lighthouse sits Climbing the spiral staircase of the lighthouse It was early August and the sky was clear and blue I saw the horizon forming a gentle arc beyond the open ocean “I can feel that the Earth is round here,” said a 21-year-old female student The decision to build the lighthouse was made in 1866 while Japan was still under the reign of the Tokugawa shogunate the shogunate had signed the Edo Treaty with four countries which led to the construction of eight lighthouses The Western-style stone lighthouse was built by British engineer Richard Henry Brunton (1841-1901) who is known as “the father of lighthouses in Japan,” along with a building for the lighthouse keeper’s residence which no longer serves its original purpose because the lighthouse no longer needs a keeper is designated as a registered tangible cultural property Brunton is said to have planted daffodils around the lighthouse and the plants still grow in clusters and bloom in winter The coast around the lighthouse has been called a choke point for maritime traffic because of its complex ria coast with many rocks and reefs In 1890 — 20 years after the lighthouse was constructed — a Turkish warship was caught in a typhoon around the waters run aground on a reef by high waves and sank The frigate Ertugrul was carrying a delegation to Japan from the Ottoman Empire 587 people died after being thrown into the sea but 69 survived thanks to dedicated rescue efforts by local people in Kushimoto It is said that some of the survivors swam ashore and climbed a steep cliff and found shelter at the keeper’s residence “Light from the lighthouse was a beacon of life for the stranded foreigners,” said Mitsunori Hamano He is also a member of a group that hands down tales of the Ertugrul disaster The rescue efforts of the local people have been passed down as a testament to the friendship between Japan and Turkey the town government of Kushimoto established the Turkish Memorial Museum which displays a model of the Ertugrul and the belongings of its crew A monument in memory of the disaster was also erected near the lighthouse In addition to historical facts about the Ertugrul disaster being carried in a Turkish textbook a movie about the episode — a Japanese-Turkish coproduction — “125 Years Memory” was made in 2015 the former lighthouse keeper’s residence and the cemetery for the victims were designated as national historic sites “The residents selflessly engaged in rescuing the foreigners and that fact has been passed on as a cornerstone of friendship,” Hamano said a historic event took place slightly offshore in 1791 Commodore Matthew Perry’s fleet at the port of Uraga in 1853 was a shocking event for secluded Japan merchant ship Lady Washington and fellow ship Grace had called at the port in Kushimoto to interact with local residents Friendship Museum near the lighthouse has kept a map depicting how the U.S flag was flown for the first time in secluded Japan The Grace’s logbook was discovered in 2016 and the Kushimoto municipality began an exchange with Wearham “Research is progressing among Japanese and American experts and the history of various exchanges will be revealed in the future,” the museum’s supervisor Hayato Sakurai said “I hope that a lot of people will learn about this part of history.” This small rocket launch site in Kushimoto is the first such facility operated by a private company Kii roughly refers to a region including Wakayama Prefecture and southern part of Mie Prefecture the Tokyo-based company that operates the facility plans to launch the satellite-mounted rocket named Kairos — an abbreviation of Kii-based Advanced & Instant Rocket System — as early as December and has a goal of launching 20 satellites per year by the mid-2020s The town government will develop a space exhibition hall and a video theater in the town Kushimoto-Koza High School will also have a space-oriented course in its curriculum starting in April 2024 Getting to Kashinozaki Lighthouse takes 37 minutes by bus and 20 minutes by taxi from JR Kushimoto Station it takes 40 minutes from the Susami-Minami Interchange Admission to the Turkish Memorial Museum is ¥500 and that to the former lighthouse keeper’s residence is ¥100 Japanese version The Tokyo-based start-up established Space Port Kii a launch site with an area of about 15 hectares The space company was founded in July 2018 with investments mainly from Canon Electronics Inc. Space One has set a goal of launching 20 rockets a year in the future by commercializing a service in which small satellites from entities including private companies are loaded onto its rockets and sent into orbit Space One initially aimed to carry out the maiden launch of KAIROS but postponed it four times as procurement of parts was disrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s aggression against Ukraine “I’m deeply moved to think that we have finally reached this stage,” Mamoru Endo Rocket launches and deployment of satellites into orbit in Japan have been led by public organizations including the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency The first successful private rocket launch occurred in May 2019 by Interstellar Technologies Inc. The inaugural flight of Space One will carry a small satellite from the Cabinet Satellite Intelligence Center The small satellite will be launched to verify if it can serve as a temporary replacement during malfunctions of information-gathering satellites used for missile launch detection and large-scale disaster assessment attempting to insert it into orbit at an altitude of 500 kilometers The company has scheduled the launch of the first unit for March 9 although it may be postponed depending on the weather Japan's private company Space One's maiden rocket launch on Wednesday failed as its satellite-carrying rocket exploded following the liftoff has sought to become Japan's first private firm to put a satellite into orbit but it failed to launch the 18-meter- (59-foot-) long rocket Kairos from the launch site in the Kushimoto town of Wakayama prefecture at western Japan's mountainous Kii Peninsula Emergency services officials arrived on the spot soon after the incident but there have been no reports of casualties so far The launch was previously scheduled for Saturday but it was delayed for safety reasons after the company detected a ship in an area of the ocean that it had designated as empty aims to send 30 rockets in a year by 2030s the company planned to launch its first rocket in 2022 but was postponed four times due to the COVID-19 pandemic and logistics delays The BIST name and logo are protected under the "Protected Trademark Certificate" and cannot be used or altered without permission.All rights to the information disclosed under the BIST name are entirely owned by BIST and cannot be republished Market data is provided by iDealdata Financial Technologies Inc Wakayama — A number of baby sea turtles were recently born at the Kushimoto Marine Park Center’s aquarium in Kushimoto entertaining visitors as they energetically swim around their tank The center keeps a total of 30 turtles of the loggerhead green and hawksbill species in an outdoor pool five loggerheads and one green turtle laid eggs on 18 occasions in a designated area adjacent to the pool and about 200 turtles were born during a period of about 10 days The newborns have a carapace 4.5 centimeters to 5 centimeters long Green turtles are slightly bigger than loggerheads and have whitish bellies they will grow to have a carapace 15 to 20 centimeters long and weigh about 2 kilograms With hatching likely to continue until late September a total of more than 500 turtles are expected to be born “Now is the cutest time [for the turtles],” said Toru Yoshida “I hope people will see the horn-like projections between the nose and mouth and other features that are unique to the baby turtles.” Japanese version Japanese version TOKYO/KUSHIMOTO (AA) - Turkey and Japan are preparing to shoot a film in commemoration of an Ottoman frigate which sank off an island around the Japanese town of Kushimoto in 1890 while returning from a goodwill voyage to Japan on the 125th anniversary of the accident and it is co-sponsored by the Turkish government the Japanese Foreign Ministry and the Municipality of Kushimoto The movie will be directed by award-winning Japanese filmmaker Mitsutoshi Tanaka and Turkey's Bocek Yapim will be in charge of the production Turkey's Ambassador to Tokyo Serdar Kilic and Kushimoto Mayor Katsumasa Tashima will dive to the wreckage of the Ottoman frigate in memory of the Turkish sailors who died in the accident a diving trainer and head of the Ertugrul Project who has brought thousands of frigate pieces to light will accompany the ambassador and the mayor More than 580 sailors lost their lives and only 69 others survived when the frigate was caught in a typhoon off the coast of Wakayama Prefecture and subsequently drifted into a reef and sank off Kushimoto  The people of Kushimoto helped the stranded sailors an event seen as a milestone for Turkish-Japanese friendship  The Turkish Embassy in Tokyo will also hold an exhibition composed of wreckage parts and pieces from the museum on Kushimoto's Oshima Island The Ertugrul Exhibition's inauguration will be launched at the embassy's office on October 29 and will last for three weeks Japanese version