Kairos 3 pre-launch information: Kairos 3 was scheduled to launch at 11:00:00 on March 1, 2026, but based on weather analysis, today’s launch has been canceled. A new launch date will be announced as soon as it is decided.
Space One had originally planned to launch the Kairos 3 rocket on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at 11:00:00.
However, during the final automatic checks prior to launch, unstable reception of positioning satellite signals triggered the safety functions of the Launch Safety Control System (LSC), resulting in an emergency shutdown before liftoff.
The new launch schedule has been set as follows:
Planned Launch Date: Thursday, March 5, 2026 Estimated Launch Time: 11:10:00 (JST) Launch Window: 11:10:00 – 11:20:00 (JST) Backup Period: Friday, March 6, 2026 – March 25, 2026
Interesting that they didn’t cut the live stream to hide the failure, like in failed launches from other providers. They even show replay of the failed launch.
During this flight, The flight control system autonomously determined during the first stage flight and activated the FTS system, resulting in an aerial explosion.
This repeated the tragedy of the first flight. Consequently, all payloads fell into the Pacific Ocean.
Yes, that is what I am thinking too, really have a respect for that. They even share the preliminary cause a few moment after the stream ended. They say it have something to do with the Autonomous Flight Termination System.
To clear up any possible confusion about an autonomous flight termination system and the translation " … but we determined that mission success was difficult and implemented flight termination measures."
Thank you very much for clarifying that, yes I think there is a lost of translation from Japanese to English
For context, Kairos is one of few newer rocket (I think the first Japanese?) that has capability to terminate itself without ground command. I think that is what caused the failure few seconds into Flight 1 as the solid motor performance is less than modeled and the autonomous flight termination system was self triggered.
Kairos 3 pre-launch information: Kairos 3 was scheduled to launch at 11:00:00 on March 1, 2026, but based on weather analysis, today’s launch has been canceled. A new launch date will be announced as soon as it is decided.
