Japan tests and lands experimental reusable rocket RV-X
Japan carried out the first test flight of its experimental RV-X reusable rocket, which lifted off, hovered, moved horizontally and landed safely in a flight under one minute at JAXA's Noshiro Testing Centre. The vehicle, jointly developed with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, is 1.8 metres in diameter and 7.3 metres long and has engines with improved durability and four shock-absorbing landing legs. The test advances efforts to develop lower-cost, reusable successors to the single-use H3 and sharpens Japan's position in an international race that includes SpaceX and recent Chinese recovery claims; JAXA plans higher-altitude tests and an online briefing.
Japan successfully flew and landed the RV-X reusable test rocket.
Context
Japan wants reusable rocket technology to lower launch costs and compete globally. The test follows Chinese reports of a recovered first stage and JAXA plans higher-altitude trials next.
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