EPSILON ROCKET ENGINE CATCHES FIRE AT JAPAN SPACE AGENCY TEST CENTRE

TOKYO, Nov 26 (Bernama-Kyodo) -- An engine being developed for use in the Epsilon S small rocket went up in flames Tuesday during a combustion test at a facility in southwestern Japan, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said.

The fire at the Tanegashima Space Centre in Kagoshima Prefecture follows another incident in July 2023 when the same engine exploded during a test at the Noshiro Testing Centre in northeastern Japan, Kyodo News reported.

No one was injured in the fire and JAXA is examining the cause of the failure, according to the agency.

The incident occurred soon after the ground test for the second-stage engine began at 8.30 am. Flames emerged first before the sound of an explosion was heard around a minute later and white smoke enveloped the area.

In the previous botched test in July last year, a piece of metal from the ignition melted and damaged the thermal insulator covering the engine, allowing fuel to catch fire and cause an explosion.

JAXA had added thermal insulation to the ignition to address the issue prior to the latest test.

JAXA is developing the Epsilon S as the successor to the current Epsilon series to enhance the country's competitiveness in the growing satellite launch market, but the continuous failures could potentially slow progress.

--BERNAMA-KYODO