| KAIROS (Kii-based Advanced & Instant Rocket System) | |||
| Function: | Launch vehicle | ||
| Manufacturer: | Space One | ||
| Country-Origin: | Japan | ||
| Height: | 18 m | ||
| Diameter: | 1.35 m | ||
| Mass: | 23 t | ||
| Stages: | 4 | ||
| Capacities: |
| ||
| Comparable: | Minotaur I Pegasus Electron Ceres-1 | ||
| Status: | In development | ||
| Sites: | Spaceport Kii | ||
| Launches: | 1 | ||
| Fail: | 1 | ||
| First: | 13 March 2024 | ||
The, or Kii-based Advanced & Instant Rocket System,[1] is a Japanese solid-fuel rocket designed to launch small satellites of mass up to 250 kg to low Earth orbit and up to 150 kg to sun-synchronous orbit by the private spaceflight company Space One.[2] It consists of 3 solid fuel powered stages and a liquid propellant upper stage.
The namesake of the KAIROS rocket is the Greek word Kairos, which means the subjective 'right time' as contrasted with Chronos which is the objective clock time. Kairos is also an alternate spelling of the name of Caerus, the Greek deity of luck and opportunity.[3]
manufactures the KAIROS rocket at Tomioka Plant in the city of Tomioka, Gunma Prefecture. [4] [5]
Launches are planned from Spaceport Kii in Kushimoto, Wakayama, Japan, a dedicated launch site built by Shimizu Corporation.[6] [7] This spaceport is accessible from Tokyo International Airport (Haneda Airport) via Nanki–Shirahama Airport in approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes, and from Kansai International Airport in approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.
The first launch was planned on 9 March 2024[8] but was postponed because a ship was spotted in the "maritime warning area" set up in waters near the launch pad.[9] [10] [11] The launch eventually took place on 13 March 2024, but the vehicle exploded five seconds after liftoff.[12] The remains of the rocket and payload fell close to the launch pad, but no substantial damage was found.[13] Space One announced several hours later that the autonomous flight termination system could have activated and ended the mission.[14] On 25 August 2024, the company's director confirmed that a destruct command was issued on the rocket. The AFTS detected a speed and level of thrust on the first stage that was lower than was modeled. Because this was the first rocket launch in Japan that used a flight safety system capable of intervening in a launch without human involvement, the destruct criteria were set to be particularly conservative.
The second flight is scheduled for 14 December 2024.The mission will carry five satellites, including four CubeSats and one microsatellite[15] .These satellites include payloads developed by Taiwan Space Agency, Space Cubics LLC, Terra Space Inc. and jp/ LAGRAPO Ltd, as well as an additional satellite owned by an unnamed customer[16] .
| S.no | FlightNo. | Date (UTC) | Payload(s) | Outcome | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 13 March 202402:01:12 |  Rapid Launch Small Satellite | Vehicle destroyed by its autonomous Flight Termination System at T+5 seconds, owing to lower vehicle thrust and speed than intended.[17] | ||
| 2 | 2 | 14 December02:00–02:20 | TBA | Planned to carry four CubeSats and one microsatellites |