Rocket Engine Explodes Mid-Test in Japan’s Latest Space Mishap

Smoke rises as an engine for an Epsilon S rocket exploded during a test at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's testing site in Noshiro, Akita Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on July 14, 2023. Kyodo News via AP

An engine being designed for Japan’s Epsilon S space rocket exploded during testing, in the latest mishap for the nation’s space program.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), has been making efforts to launch advanced rockets, to compete with Elon Musk’s SpaceX.