The suborbital rocket “VP01” developed by jtSPACE Co., Ltd., a Japanese sister company of a Taiwanese rocket development company, will be launched from the Hokkaido Spaceport (HOSPO) as outlined below.Launch Overview Launch Date: Sunday, July 6, 2025 Launch Windows: 6:00-7:30, 10:50-12:00, or 16:00-17:00 (JST) Contingency Launch Dates: July 12–13, July 19–20, July 26–27, 2025 (weekends only) Launch Site: Hokkaido Spaceport, Launch Complex 1 – Launch Pad 12（LC1-LP12） Direction of Launch: East-Southeast Launch Objective: Reach the Kármán line (100km) and verify operation of all rocket systems※Launch date and time may be postponed due to weather and other conditionsjtSPACE Co., Ltd., sister company to Taiwanese entity tiSPACE (Taiwan Innovative Space Inc.), is a local Japanese entity that aims to develop a space transportation business in Japan. The launch of suborbital rocket “VP01” marks the first step of this long-term journey. The goal of this launch is for the rocket to reach the Kármán line (100km) , with the purpose of verifying the performance of the rocket. The outcome of this launch will lay ground for the future development of a planned orbital launch vehicle.This is the first launch of a rocket reaching outer space at an altitude of 100 km in HOSPO in four years, since the MOMO F6 of Interstellar Technologies Inc. (Taiki Town) in July 2021. The launch of jtSPACE will also be the first launch backed by a foreign capital in Japan.Taiki Town and SPACE COTAN Co., Ltd. (SPACE COTAN), which operate “Hokkaido Spaceport (HOSPO)”, a commercial spaceport open to the private sector in Asia, will continue to accept launches from diverse companies and organizations to contribute to the development of the space industry and to revitalize the region through the space industry.On the day of the launch, the runway at Hokkaido Spaceport will be open to the public to allow viewing of the launch.Further details will be announced on the HOSPO website at a later date.https://hokkaidospaceport.com/en/About the rocket Name: 2-stage suborbital launch vehicle “VP01” Total Length: 12m Diameter: 0.6m Weight: 1.4t Engine: Hybrid system using synthetic rubber as solid fuel and nitrous oxide (N2O) as oxidizer Thrust: first stage; 6,500 kgf, second stage; 1,100 kgf Maximum altitude: Approximately 100km
NVS will attempt to broadcast the launch of the suborbital rocket "VP01" developed by the Japanese branch of the Taiwanese rocket development company "jtSPACE Co., Ltd.".*Due to poor radio conditions, there may be instances where live broadcasting is not possible.*There is a high chance that the rocket will not be visible until launch.Scheduled launch date: July 12, 2025Scheduled launch time: Any of the time slots between 6:00-7:30, 10:50-12:00, or 16:00-17:00 (Japan Standard Time)Launch site: Hokkaido Spaceport, Launch Complex 1 - Launch Pad 12 (LC1-LP12)Launch azimuth: SoutheastLaunch objective: Reaching space at an altitude of over 100 km and verifying the operation of all rocket systems.
This weird livestream showed some photos of the launch. Looks like the vehicle lost control.https://youxube.com/watch?v=1KlWL5HcGI8
The rocket lifted off at 11:40 a.m. (0240 GMT), but within a minute its trajectory turned wobbly and it went into freefall, footage from Japanese public broadcaster NHK showed.
jtSPACE's VP01 rocket was launched at 11:40, but the flight was stopped and the first and second stages separated and landed on the ocean.Flight Termination System was not carried out.
jtSPACE VP01 passed +6sec and part of the aircraft (fin) disintegrated during the first stage combustion.After +11sec for jtSPACE VP01, the first and second stages separated. The first stage appears to be overtaking the second stage while dragging its parachute. There may have been some other problem besides the loss of the aerodynamic fin.
