Regarding the cause of the launch failure of the Japan small rocket "Epsilon" No. 6, JAXA = Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency concluded that the pipe that feeds fuel to the device that controls the orientation of the rocket was blocked by another part and did not operate sufficiently.
With regard to the failure of the launch of Epsilon 10 in October last year, JAXA has been investigating the cause of the failure of the "second-stage gas-jet device" that controls the direction of the rocket, focusing on the pipes and valves through which the fuel that is the source of the gas passes.
At an expert meeting of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) on May 6, JAXA concluded that the rubber membrane attached to the inside of the fuel tank connected to the piping was torn off and sucked into the piping and blocked from verification using simulated equipment and manufacturing data of parts.
He also said that the rubber membrane was torn off because part of the membrane was caught in the gap between the fuel tank and the fixture during installation.
JAXA stated that "there was a lack of confirmation of proven parts" and would like to improve reliability by taking measures such as going back to the design concept at the time of development, the basis of the usage conditions, and the manufacturing process.
In addition, for the first Epsilon S rocket, which is scheduled to be launched next fiscal year, measures will be taken after considering the design change of the fuel tank that caused the problem.
Takayuki Imoto, Project Manager of JAXA, said, "I feel a heavy responsibility for the launch failure, and it is my responsibility to do everything I can to make the next Epsilon S a success and to improve reliability."