Japan's Epsilon-S solid-fuel rocket exploded during an engine trial at a testing site

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The explosion took place about a minute into the test of the second stage engine, the official said.

Japan's newest rocket Epsilon lifts off carrying a telescope for observation of the solar system from space (Video)

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Japan has successfully launched a new solid-fuel rocket carrying a telescope for observation of the solar system from space, following last month’s setback.

The rocket lifted off at 2.00 p.m. (0500GMT) on Saturday from the Uchinoura Space Center in Kagoshima, southwestern Japan.

A previous launch scheduled for August 27 was suspended nearly 20 seconds before countdown after a ground control computer falsely detected a positional abnormality.