SPACE LAUNCH REPORT
          Japan Space One Kairos Smallsat Launcher 
        Flight History by Variant/Year (2024-Present)
         by Ed Kyle, Last Update March 13, 2024

        L(F) = Number of Launches(Number of Failures)  

        Kairos     
Year     L(F)    L(F)    L(F)    L(F)    L(F)    L(F)    L(F)   
------------------------------------------------------------------
2020      -       -       -       -       -      -
2021      -       -       -       -       -      -
2022      -       -       -       -       -      -
2023      -       -       -       -       -
2024     1(1)  
------------------------------------------------------------------
        Kairos 
Year     L(F)    L(F)    L(F)    L(F)    L(F)   L(F)    L(F)   
------------------------------------------------------------------
Total    1(1)  
------------------------------------------------------------------

Footnotes:




                     Kairos Vehicle Configurations

------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Payload         Configuration     Liftoff  GLOW
                 (tonnes)                          Height (tonnes)
                [1] 500                           (meters)
                     x 33 deg                                                 
                [2] 500 km 
                     x 97 deg                
==================================================================

Kairos          0.25 t [1]      3 Stg solid + PBS     18 m  23 t
                0.15 t [2]
 
==================================================================
[1] LEO
[2] SSO


                 Kairos Vehicle Components

------------------------------------------------------------------
               Stg 1    Stg 2    Stg 3    Stg 4    PLF    
                                          (PBS)  
==================================================================
Diameter (m)  1.35 m    1.35 m   1.35 m   ~0.5 m    1.5 m 

Length (m)    8.1       3.6 m    1.8 m    ~0.5 m   ~3.8 m 
 	 
GLOW (tonnes) 14.7 t    5.2 t    2.7 t    0.1 t    0.112 t 

Mb/o (tonnes) 1.8 t     0.52 t   0.25 t   0.07 t   
                                                   

Engine 	      
Engine Mfgr    	  	  	  	  	

Fuel          Solid     Solid    Solid    Liquid
Oxidizer                                  Monoprop
 	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	 
T(SL t)        	  	  	  	 
T(Vac t)                         9 t
	  	 
ISP (SL sec)  265 s	
ISP (Vac sec)           294 s    300 s    300 s
 	  	 
Tburn (sec)    90 s     70 s     60 s
No. Engines    1        1        1        1    
==================================================================

PBS = Liquid Post-Boost Stage 


Example Launch Profile
--------------------------------
T+00 s    Liftoff
T+90 s    Stage1 motor burnout
T+130 s   Stage1/2 Sep
T+200 s   Stage2 motor burnout
T+280 s   Stage2/3 Sep
T+340 s   Stage3 motor burnout
T+480 s   Stage3/4 Sep
T+3100 s  Satellite Sep
--------------------------------


                     KAIROS SPACE LAUNCH LOG

DATE     VEHICLE      ID    PAYLOAD           MASS(t) SITE* ORBIT*
------------------------------------------------------------------
03/13/24 Kairos       F1    Test                       TH   [FTO]
------------------------------------------------------------------

[F1] Exploded about 5 seconds after liftoff.  AFTS triggered.


 Site Code:

TH = Tahara, Japan
KA = Kagoshima, Japan 
TA = Tanageshima, Japan
YO = Yoshinobu Launch Pad
M5 = M5 Launch Pad

 Orbit Code:

EEO/M = Molynia (12-hr) Elliptical Earth Orbit
FTO = Failed to Orbit
FSO = Failed Suborbital
GTO = Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit
GTO+ = Supersynchronous or High Perigee Transfer Orbit
GTO- = Subsynchronous Transfer Orbit
GTOi = Inclined GTO
GEO = Geosynchronous Orbit
HCO = Heliocentric (solar) Orbit
HTO = High Earth Transfer Orbit
LEO = Low Earth Orbit
LEO/S = Sun Synchronous Low Earth Orbit
LEO/P = Polar Low Earth Orbit
MEO = Medium Earth Orbit
MTO = Medium Earth Transfer Orbit 
SUB = Suborbital
xxx



                   SPACE LAUNCH REPORT
                Space One Kairos History
       by: Ed Kyle, Last Update: March 13, 2024

Tokyo-base SPACE ONE developed the Kairos small satelllite launch 
vehicle, aiming to provide "the world's shortest lead time from 
contractual engagement to launch, as well as the world's most 
frequent launching schedule".  Kairos uses three solid motor 
stages topped by a liquid Post-Boost Stage to lift up to 150 kg 
to sun synchronous orbit.  A new launch site at Tahara, Japan, 
named "Spaceport Kii", was constructed for Kairos.

Major shareholders for Space One include CANON ELECTRONICS, 
IHI AEROSPACE, and Shimizu.  IHI apparently builds the solid 
motors.

First launch took place on March 13, 2024 from the Kii launch 
site near Tahara.  The vehicle appeared to fly under control as 
it rose from its pad, but suddenly exploded after about 5 seconds.
Company officials said that the rocket's Automatic Flight 
Termination System (AFTS) had triggered, but they did know why 
on launch day.