Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) successfully tested an experimental reusable rocket in the northeastern part of Japan on Saturday (July 11th). Japan aims to master technology that can reduce launch costs to be competitive in the global space market.
At around 6:15 AM on Saturday, JAXA’s RV-X rocket conducted its first test flight at a testing site in Noshiro, Akita Prefecture, and successfully landed. The test flight lasted about 40 seconds, with the rocket reaching a height of approximately 11 meters, hovering and horizontally moving about 16 meters before landing.
Project manager Takashi Ito stated at an online press conference held at the test center that the rocket flew as planned, and the test went smoothly. “I breathed a sigh of relief,” he said.
Co-developed by JAXA and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, the RV-X rocket has a diameter of 1.8 meters (5.9 feet) and a length of 7.3 meters (23.9 feet), equipped with a high-durability engine and four shock-absorbing landing gears. Ito mentioned that the outstanding engine has undergone 165 successful combustion tests so far.
Given that Japan’s primary spacecraft, the H3 rocket, can only be used once, Japan has been seeking to develop reusable technology to lower costs and increase satellite launch frequency.
Last year, a subsidiary of Honda, Honda R&D Co., successfully conducted flight tests of a reusable rocket, marking the first such test by a Japanese private company.
With the advancement of technology, competition in the global space market is becoming increasingly fierce. Elon Musk’s SpaceX has commercialized reusable rocket technology with its Falcon 9 rocket. Japan is also striving to master this technology to lower launch costs. Saturday’s flight marked an important step for Japan in acquiring the necessary technology to develop lower-cost alternative rockets to replace the current disposable H3 series rockets.
The Japanese government emphasized the importance of stable and commercially competitive transport capabilities for Japan’s space program and national security.
Just a day before Japan’s successful test of a reusable rocket, China also achieved the controlled recovery of a sub-level carrier rocket.
(Reference sources: The Associated Press and Nikkei News)