Space One rocket explodes seconds after launch in Japan

The first rocket launched by the Japanese start-up Space One exploded seconds after liftoff Wednesday, undermining ambitions to become the country’s first private company to put a satellite into orbit.

The Kairos The solid-fuel rocket launched just after 11 a.m. local time and burst into flames less than 10 seconds later, livestreams of the launch showed. The explosion left a large plume of smoke and started a fire in a nearby forest that firefighters tried to extinguish.

The 18-meter-long rocket weighs 23 tons and was launched from Space Port Kii in Wakayama Prefecture on Japan’s main island, the company’s website said.

It was not immediately clear what caused the explosion or whether anyone was injured. Space One did not respond to requests for comment early Wednesday afternoon.

This is a development story.