Space One's Kairos rocket is a new contender in the in the small sat launch arena. It can carry payloads of up to 250 kg to low Earth orbit, from Spaceport Kii, Kushimoto, Japan.
Comparison to Rocket Lab
| Rocket | Height [m] | Diameter [m] | Payload to SSO [kg] | Cost per Launch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electron | 18 | 1,2 | 200 | ~ $8 million |
| Kairos | 18 | 1,35 | 150 | ~$ 9 million* |
In contrast to the prevailing trend and the competitors in the field, they chose a 4 stage architecture, where the first three are powered by a solid fuel and a liquid-fueled upper stage. The competition tends to opt for two-stage solutions with liquid propellants.
*Source for launch cost: spacelaunchschedule.com
Maiden Flight
The first attempt (March 13th, 2024) failed at 5 seconds in the flight due to the flight termination system destroying the rocket because vehicle thrust and speed was lower than planned.
The Launch Pad: LAUNCH FAILURE! SpaceOne KAIROS | Helicopter View
SciNews: KAIROS launch anomaly
Livestream
TBA
Useful links to stay up to date on launches:
Spaceflightnow.com: Launch Schedule
Everyday Astronaut: Prelaunch Previews
NASA Spaceflight nasaspacefight.com