Launch of the second private rocket

In December 2021, Japan's first small rocket launch site, Spaceport Kii, was launched in Kushimoto, Wakayama Prefecture.
The first unit "Cairos" was launched in March 2024, and the second unit is scheduled to be launched on December 18, 2024.
It's very exciting to think that the day when you can see the rocket launches up close is approaching.
Why don't you come to Kushimoto to see the rocket at this wonderful opportunity? Here, we will introduce the details of the rocket launch site "Space Port Kii" while conveying the charm of Kushimoto.

The first rocket launch site in Honshu

The Spaceport Kii, built as a rocket launch site, was born in December 2021 in Kushimoto-cho, Wakayama Prefecture.
Space One Co., Ltd., which operates the first rocket launch site in the private sector, Spaceport Kii, is a company established for commercial space transportation services.
Specifically, it is responsible for transporting small satellites received from customers to specified satellite orbits. In the future, commercial satellites are expected to become smaller and lighter, and the field of activity is expected to expand, which will be loaded onto the company's small rocket and launched.
In recent years, the private sector has been expanding rapidly, and demand for rocket launches has increased accordingly.

Kushihonmachi, the southernmost town in Honshu

Kushimoto-cho, Wakayama Prefecture is located at the southernmost tip of Honshu, and the sea of Kushimoto, which was blessed by the Kuroshio, is a large coral community, and is famous as a place with a very large variety of fish.
In the mountains and seas around Kushimoto, there are many sightseeing spots known nationwide, such as Hashihigashiiwa, Shiomisaki, Kumano Kodo, and Nachi Falls, and leisure facilities are Kushimoto Marine Park and Nanki Kumano Geopark Center, as well as Adventure World, which is famous for pandas if you go a little further.
There are many delicious Wakayama gourmets such as "bonito", "kue" and "tuna", as well as "Kumano beef", and abundant fruits, so you can enjoy visiting sightseeing spots and visiting gourmet food.

The reason why Kushimoto was chosen as the location of the rocket launch site is because it is located in the southernmost part of Honshu. Currently, there are two rocket launch sites in Japan, all of which are located in Kagoshima Prefecture.
It is said that the closer the equator, the more effectively the gravitational power can be used, and in that sense, the land of Kagoshima, located at the southern tip of Japan, has been selected.
In the case of rockets launched from Kushimoto-cho, rockets can be transported by land because the main factory to be manufactured is in the Kanto region.
Another reason is that the surroundings are more than a certain range of unmanned.

Only the official tour sites prepared at Tahara Beach (about 20 minutes by car from the hotel) and the former Uragami Elementary School (about 25 minutes by car from the hotel) can actually be seen. Both venues are about 2 km from the launch site of the rocket, so you can see the launch of the rocket up close.
※The image is an image.

Scheduled launch date and time: Wednesday, December 18, 2024 11:00 to 11:20　※It has been changed since December 15th.

Launch location: Spaceport Kii

For more information, please refer to the following website.

Cairos Unit 2 Launch Support Site