- Japan's space agency (JAXA) is reviewing the Epsilon S rocket development plan due to ongoing technical difficulties.
- Repeated explosions during second-stage combustion tests in 2023 and 2024 have prompted a temporary shift back to the older Epsilon rocket design.
- The revised plan will delay performance improvements and reduce launch capability compared to the initial Epsilon S goals, following a recent H3 rocket launch failure.

A: Hey! Did you hear about JAXA’s rocket plans?

B: No! What’s up? Is everything okay?

A: Well, it's a little complicated. They're rethinking their Epsilon S rocket.

B: Really? What happened?

A: Apparently, there have been some explosions during testing. Like, two separate explosions! One in Akita and one in Kagoshima.

B: Oh no! That’s scary!

A: Yeah! So, they're pausing work on making it even better for now.

B: So, they’re going back to an older model?

A: Exactly! They'll use the old Epsilon rocket instead. They’re going to test it soon, in April.

B: That sounds like a setback. Will it still be able to launch satellites?

A: It will, but it won’t be as powerful as they originally hoped.

B: That’s too bad. I remember when the H3 rocket failed last year, too.

A: I know! Now Japan doesn’t have a working rocket at all. It’s a tricky situation.



B: Wow, that’s a lot of trouble! Hopefully, they'll figure it out quickly!