As Space One attempted to become the first Japanese company to launch a satellite into orbit on Wednesday, its Kairos rocket burst shortly after launch on its maiden voyage.
Just after 11:01 a.m. (0201 GMT), the 18-meter (59-foot), four-stage solid-fuel rocket burst seconds after taking off, leaving behind a massive cloud of smoke and fire close to the launch pad, which was visible on a local media livestream of the launch on the tip of the Kii peninsula in western Japan, according to Reuters.