Japanese Private Rocket "Space One" Explodes Seconds After Launch

Tokyo-based startup Space One aimed to be the first private Japanese company to put a satellite into orbit with their Kairos rocket. The rocket, launched from the mountainous Kii peninsula in western Japan, exploded shortly after takeoff on Wednesday, as reported by Reuters in multiple articles. The explosion occurred just after 11 a.m. local time and was captured on livestreamed video. There have been no reports of injuries or other damage. Space One has stated that the flight was "interrupted" after the launch, but the cause of the explosion remains under investigation.