Japan confesses data breach on Epsilon rocket

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has reported a possible data breach on its first Epsilon solid-fueled rocket, Kyodo news agency says.

Spyware was found on one of the agency's personal computers on November 21. It was immediately disconnected from the local area network.

Experts are now probing into the origins of the virus, which could be a stray one or planted as a result of a hacker attack on JAXA.

Among the leaked data JAXA cited the rocket's parameters, specifics of its engine maintenance and protocols on agency's meetings.

Japan started developing the next-generation solid propellant rocket, called Epsilon, two years ago.

It is superior to the existing H-IIA rocket due to its smaller size, which will allow it to lift light satellites into orbit at a quarter of the H-IIA launch cost.

Source: Voice of Russia