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Japan's Epsilon S rocket engine passes crucial ground test after prior failures
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Technology

Japan's Epsilon S rocket engine passes crucial ground test after prior failures

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Outcome reported
  • Japan's Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) successfully conducted a ground test of its new solid-fuel rocket engine, Epsilon S.
  • The test used a modified older engine model after previous failures with a newly developed one, easing concerns about the project's reliability.
  • This success paves the way for the Epsilon S rocket's launch within the current fiscal year, aiming to transport satellites to higher altitudes than its predecessor.

Japan's space program breathes a sigh of relief as the Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) successfully completed a ground test of its new Epsilon S rocket engine on Thursday. This crucial test follows two previous failures that resulted in explosions due to combustion system anomalies.

To prevent further setbacks, JAXA opted to use the M-35a engine, an established model, instead of the recently developed second-stage engine that caused the prior mission failures. This modified older engine performed as expected for approximately 130 seconds, according to the agency.

The successful test alleviates concerns about the Epsilon S project's reliability, especially after the last successful launch in the Epsilon series occurred in 2021. The Epsilon S, an enhanced version of the Epsilon rocket, is designed to be a three-stage, solid-fuel launch vehicle capable of carrying satellites to about 700 kilometers in altitude.

With this hurdle cleared, JAXA is now focused on launching the Epsilon S rocket within the current fiscal year, which concludes in March 2027. The Epsilon S is a key component of Japan's space exploration efforts, building upon the legacy of its predecessor.

The test was completed as expected, lasting approximately 130 seconds.

— JAXAConfirmation of the successful engine test.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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