Japan Tests Experimental Reusable Rocket in Bid to Cut Launch Costs
The RV-X rocket's successful test flight marks a step towards developing more cost-effective successors to Japan's current single-use launch vehicles.
Japan's space agency conducted the first test flight of its experimental reusable rocket on Saturday, a development aimed at reducing launch costs and boosting the country's competitiveness in the global space market.
The RV-X rocket successfully lifted off, hovered, moved horizontally, and landed during its less than one-minute flight at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s (JAXA) Noshiro Testing Center in northeastern Japan. The test was livestreamed by NVS, a group of space enthusiasts.
JAXA is expected to provide details on the test results later Saturday. This flight is seen as a crucial step for Japan in developing technology for a more affordable successor to its current H3 series of rockets, which are single-use.
The successful test follows a report from China's state media that the country achieved its first successful recovery of a rocket's first stage after liftoff the previous day. Japan's H3 rocket is intended to be more cost-effective than its predecessor, the H-2A, which had a high success rate but still requires further cost reductions to remain competitive internationally.
The Japanese government considers a stable and commercially viable transport capability in space to be vital for its space program and national security. JAXA is co-developing the RV-X with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. The rocket measures 1.8 meters in diameter and 7.3 meters in length and is equipped with durable engines and four shock-absorption landing gears.
Future test flights are planned to send the RV-X rocket to higher altitudes, with a target of approximately 100 meters. JAXA is also collaborating with France and Germany on reusable rocket development.