Japan’s Space One Kairos rocket explodes on inaugural flight

The 59 ft, four-stage solid-fuel rocket exploded seconds after lifting off just after 11:01am (0201 GMT), leaving behind a large cloud of smoke, a fire, fragments of the rocket.

Japan’s Space One’s small, solid-fuelled Kairos rocket exploded shortly after its inaugural launch on Wednesday as the firm tried to become the first Japanese company to put a satellite in orbit.