Kushimoto, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan – Dramatic footage filmed by SETI-TERA on March 5, 2026, captures the third launch attempt of Space One’s Kairos rocket from Space Port Kii. The 18-meter, 23-ton vehicle aimed to make Space One Japan’s first private company to put a satellite into orbit.

The video shows Kairos No. 3 igniting on the launch pad amid a coastal backdrop, lifting off smoothly with a bright orange flame and thick white smoke. The rocket climbs steadily, its exhaust glowing against the morning light.

Around 68 seconds into flight, an anomaly occurs. The vehicle begins to spin out of control, fragments breaking off before a massive explosion engulfs the rocket in a fireball of orange flames and dark smoke. The self-destruct system activates, terminating the mission mid-air.

The footage lingers on the expanding smoke cloud, capturing the catastrophic failure in real time, a stark contrast to the initial promise of the ascent.

This marks Space One’s third consecutive Kairos launch failure, following previous explosions in March and later 2024, with five satellites lost in the process. The setback represents a major challenge for Japan’s private space industry.

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