Japan Scramjet Experiment Declared Failure

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) announced last week their scramjet experiment performed in Australia last month experienced problems after the rocket’s nose cone failed to jettison.

The scramjet experiment was launched aboard a sounding rocket by the University of Queensland (UQ) in Australia. The launch was conducted on March 30 from the Woomera Rocket Range.

"JAXA analyzed the flight data as soon as we received them from UQ, and found that the nose cone developed by the UQ, a cover for the scramjet engine aboard the top of the launch vehicle, was not jettisoned, thus the flight test failed."

"An investigation into the failure will be led by the UQ based on our contract," JAXA said in a press release last week, "however, JAXA will also form our own investigation team within JAXA to smoothly and timely acquire information from the UQ and study the measures for the future."