Japan’s Epsilon S rocket explodes during engine test
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An Epsilon S solid rocket exploded in Japan while testing the second stage engine. About it informs jiji agency.
The incident occurred at the Noshiro training ground in Akita Prefecture in the northern part of the country. The cause of the explosion was not specified. According to the local fire department, there were no casualties, writes Jiji. 11 fire engines were sent to the scene, the fire was extinguished in about an hour and a half.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), which developed the Epsilon S, previously announced a test of the rocket’s second stage on July 14 to test the combustion characteristics of the second stage and the strength of the insulating material. The agency writes that the explosion occurred 57 seconds after the start of the test at 9:00 (03:00 Moscow time).
The Epsilon S is an improved version of the Epsilon rocket developed by JAXA in collaboration with the IHI aircraft corporation. The first launch is scheduled for 2024. The Epsilon S is a three-stage solid rocket with a length of about 27 m, a diameter of 2.5 m, and a payload of 590 to 700 kg.
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