Saudi Arabia Welcomes First Arabian Oryx in 90 Years

The Arabian Oryx once thrived in the Arabian Peninsula. (AFP)
The Arabian Oryx once thrived in the Arabian Peninsula. (AFP)
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Saudi Arabia Welcomes First Arabian Oryx in 90 Years

The Arabian Oryx once thrived in the Arabian Peninsula. (AFP)
The Arabian Oryx once thrived in the Arabian Peninsula. (AFP)

Saudi Arabia's King Salman Royal Reserve in the Northern Borders Region witnessed the birth of an Arabian Oryx for the first time in 90 years.

The birth is the result of cooperation between the King Salman Royal Reserve Development Authority and the National Center for Wildlife. It comes after the release of a group of Oryxes in the reserve in March this year, as part of the reintroduction programs for endangered species in their natural habitats.

The white oryx’s return to these areas and the resumption of its natural reproduction contribute to the balance of the environment and enrich the biodiversity. It also gives a major boost to the preservation of these species, which disappeared from the region for decades due to many environmental factors, arbitrary hunting, and loss of vegetation cover.

The Arabian Oryx or white oryx is the largest land mammal in the Arabian Peninsula, an adult Oryx can weigh up to 80 kilograms. It is characterized by a white coat on most of the body except for the face and feet that are usually a dark color. It is characterized by long, straight or slightly curved horns. The horns of males are thicker and shorter than those of females, and they have broad hooves that facilitate their movement on soft sand.

The King Salman Royal Reserve is the fourth largest wildlife reserve in the world, extending over 130,700 square kms. It is a unique desert habitat and a resort to many species of plants, and endangered animals like the Arabian Oryx, black-tailed gazelle, and the Eurasian griffon.



Japan's Space Agency Halts Epsilon S Rocket Engine Test after Fire

Smoke and fire is seen during a combustion test of an engine for a new small Japanese rocket Epsilon S at Tanegashima Space Center, Kagoshima prefecture, southern Japan, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)
Smoke and fire is seen during a combustion test of an engine for a new small Japanese rocket Epsilon S at Tanegashima Space Center, Kagoshima prefecture, southern Japan, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)
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Japan's Space Agency Halts Epsilon S Rocket Engine Test after Fire

Smoke and fire is seen during a combustion test of an engine for a new small Japanese rocket Epsilon S at Tanegashima Space Center, Kagoshima prefecture, southern Japan, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)
Smoke and fire is seen during a combustion test of an engine for a new small Japanese rocket Epsilon S at Tanegashima Space Center, Kagoshima prefecture, southern Japan, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)

Japan's space agency aborted an engine test for the Epsilon S rocket on Tuesday following a fire at the test site, a failure that could push the rocket's debut launch beyond the March-end target and cause further delays in the national space program.
An explosion could be heard and a blaze could be seen shortly after the ground combustion test started at the Tanegashima Space Center in southwestern Japan, according to footage from public broadcaster NHK.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) said the engine test encountered a "combustion abnormality" 49 seconds after the ignition. It said there was no indication of injury or damage to the outside facility, Reuters reported.
"JAXA will conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the problem and consider countermeasures," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said at a regular press briefing.
Hayashi, the top government spokesperson, said rocket development is "extremely important" to ensure the autonomy of Japan's space program.
JAXA partnered with the aerospace unit of heavy machinery maker IHI to develop Epsilon S, the next generation in the Epsilon solid-fuel small rocket series. Shares in IHI were down as much as 6% in Tokyo trade. An IHI Aerospace spokesperson said the company is investigating the cause.
Epsilon S's debut flight was slated by the end of the fiscal year through March 31 depending on the success of Tuesday's engine test.
The test was conducted after previous failures triggered months of investigation that have delayed space missions and satellite launch plans.
In July last year, an Epsilon S engine test failed due to thermal damage to its ignition systems. That followed a launch failure in 2022.
JAXA's larger flagship rocket H3, built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, failed at its first launch last year but has succeeded in three flights this year, launching Japanese satellites and winning orders including from French satellite operator Eutelsat.
The H3 and Epsilon S are central to JAXA's ambition to build cost-competitive rockets amid the rise of American commercial launch providers such as market leader SpaceX and small rocket maker Rocket Lab.
In the private sector, IHI-backed Space One is set to attempt the second launch of its Kairos small rocket on Dec. 14 after the first flight exploded in March. It aims to become the first Japanese business to put a satellite in orbit.