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A Japan's privately developed rocket, MOMO-2, is in flames after the rocket failed to liftoff in Taiki, northern island of Hokkaido, Japan, Saturday, June 30, 2018. According to Kyodo News, the launch failed Saturday, as the rocket crashed to the ground and burst into flames seconds after liftoff, its developer said. (Masanori Takei / Kyodo News via AP) (Associated Press)
TOKYO – A rocket developed by a Japanese start-up company exploded seconds after liftoff Saturday in northern Japan, bursting into flames.
The MOMO-2 rocket, developed by Interstellar Technologies, was launched in Taiki town on Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost main island. It was supposed to reach as high as 100 kilometers (62 miles) into space.
Television footage showed that the 10-meter (33-foot) pencil rocket lifted up
The Interstellar Technologies President Takahiro Inagawa said he believes the rocket has a glitch in his hand engine.
He apologized for the failure, and said his team would collect debris
The project was started in 2005 by maverick entrepreneur Takafumi Horie, founder of the internet service provider Livedoor, who was joined by science journalists and other space fans in an effort to develop a small, lightweight and low-cost rocket to send information satellites
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