Japan’s first private rocket launch explodes shortly after take-off

Space One’s Kairos rocket exploded after liftoff from a launch pad in Kushimoto, Wakayama prefecture (Kyodo News via AP)

A rocket touted as Japan’s first from the private sector to go into orbit exploded shortly after take-off on Wednesday, livestreamed video showed.

Online video showed the rocket, called Kairos, blasting off from the mountainous Wakayama Prefecture in central Japan, exploding in mid-air within seconds.