Japan space agency puts out rocket engine fire

Flames broke out and explosion was heard shortly after combustion test began

20241126 JAXA's Epsilon S

The engine combustion test was being conducted at JAXA's Tanegashima Space Center in the southwestern prefecture of Kagoshima on the morning of Nov. 26. (Photo by JAXA/Kyodo)

TOKYO (Reuters) -- Japan's space agency has halted an engine combustion test of its Epsilon S rocket, a spokesperson said on Tuesday, after a fire broke out at the test site, the Tanegashima Space Center in southwestern Japan.

Footage from public broadcaster NHK showed a blaze breaking out shortly after the ground combustion test started, and an explosion was also heard. It was not immediately clear if the fire caused any damage.

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