interstellartechnologies
Latest
Japan's latest chance at private rocket launch ends in flames
Japan's hopes for a thriving private spaceflight industry have been dashed once again. Interstellar Technologies' second attempt at a rocket launch has ended in spectacular fashion, with its 33-foot MOMO-2 vehicle crashing (and bursting into flames) just moments after liftoff. The company put on a brave face with word that the launch facility remained intact and a promise that it would continue the program, but it's hard to be optimistic when the 2017 launch at least cleared the launchpad area.
Japan’s first private rocket launch is a partial success
The Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) hasn't made a secret of their spaceflight ambitions; they aim to put humans on the moon before China. But private spaceflight is also reaching new heights (literally) in the country. On Sunday, Momo, a startup supported partially by crowdfunding, launched Japan's first commercial space rocket from Hokkaido. The rocket was built by Interstellar Technologies Inc.
