Japan’s space agency plans Epsilon S rocket launch in 2026
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has announced plans to launch its upgraded Epsilon S rocket in fiscal 2026, which begins in April, using an existing second-stage engine, officials said Wednesday, Qazinform News Agency cites Jiji Press.
The plan was submitted to a subcommittee of the Ministry of Science and approved during the day’s meeting.
The Epsilon S is an enhanced version of the three-stage, solid-fuel Epsilon rocket. The launch was originally scheduled for fiscal 2024 but was delayed after explosions occurred during ground combustion tests of the second-stage engines with upgraded propellant in July 2023 and November 2024.
To determine the cause of the incidents, JAXA is conducting replica experiments using a one-fifth scale model of the Epsilon S. These investigations have extended the timeline for launching small satellites planned with the rocket.
Earlier, it was reported Blue Origin suspends space tourism flights to focus on moon programme.
