新型ロケット「イプシロンS」の燃焼試験が成功

Welcome to Japanese Daily News. I'm Maya. Today is July twenty-third. Today's story is about space. Japan's new small rocket Epsilon S passed its last big engine test this morning, after two explosions had delayed the project for years. Let's listen.

Now let's break it down, sentence by sentence.

On July twenty-third, Japan's space agency ran a combustion test of the new Epsilon S rocket engine and announced it finished safely.

It means combustion — burning fuel.

The test was held from nine in the morning at the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture.

It means to carry out or hold, very common in news.

The engine burned normally for about one hundred thirty seconds, just as planned, with good results.

It means normally — without any problem.

In July twenty twenty-three, the engine exploded during a test at a site in Akita Prefecture.

It means an explosion.

In November twenty twenty-four, another explosion happened at Tanegashima, and the launch plan fell far behind.

It means to be delayed or fall behind schedule.

The agency investigated the causes of the accidents and has been revising the engine's design and materials.

It means to review something and fix its problems.

Next, the agency will build the flight engine and aims to launch the first rocket within this fiscal year.

It means to aim for a goal.

Epsilon S is expected to carry small satellites to space at low cost.

It means an artificial satellite.

Let's listen to the whole story one more time.

Time for a short quiz. Listen and try to answer.

At the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture.

About one hundred thirty seconds, just as planned.

Within fiscal twenty twenty-six — by the end of March twenty twenty-seven.

That's all for today. On July twenty-third, Japan's space agency successfully completed the last major ground test of the Epsilon S rocket's second-stage engine at Tanegashima, after explosions in twenty twenty-three and twenty twenty-four had delayed the project. The first launch is now planned within this fiscal year. Thanks for listening, and see you tomorrow.