Small rocket Successful launch from the sea Venture company Offshore Ibaraki February 25 4:07
A space venture company supported by Ibaraki Prefecture launched a small rocket off the coast of Ibaraki Prefecture on the 24th. It is thought that the altitude reached about 3 km, and it is the first time in Japan that a rocket was successfully launched from the sea with the support of the government.
Ibaraki Prefecture is focusing on supporting related businesses, mainly due to the fact that there is a JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) center in Tsukuba.
Astrocean, a venture company supported by Ibaraki Prefecture, launched a rocket from a ship on the 24th in the Pacific Ocean about 80 km off the coast of Ibaraki Prefecture.
Launched was a small research rocket of about 3m in length, produced by a student group at the University of Tsukuba.
It was fired shortly after noon, climbed in elevation for about 20 seconds, and appeared to have reached an altitude of at least about 3 km, indicating that the launch was successful.
According to Ibaraki Prefecture, it is the first time in Japan that a rocket has been successfully launched from the sea with the support of the government.
CEO Takuma Mori of ASTROCEAN said, "Japan is surrounded by the sea and is suitable for launching on the sea.