Japan is also accelerating the development of reusable rocket technology.
According to a report by The Yomiuri Shimbun, at around 6:15 a.m. on the 11th, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) conducted the first flight test of its reusable small experimental rocket "RV-X" (7.3 meters in length, 1.8 meters in diameter) at the Nagato Rocket Test Facility in Naoetsu City, Akita Prefecture. The rocket ascended to a height of approximately 10 meters before landing safely. If successfully commercialized, this technology could help reduce launch costs and enhance Japan’s international competitiveness.
Development of RV-X began in 2016. It is equipped with an engine capable of repeated use up to about 100 times, featuring high durability, as well as four legs designed to absorb impact during landing. The engine has already undergone more than 160 combustion tests.
Japan's current mainstay rocket, the H3, is single-use; therefore, the government is considering incorporating reusable designs into future-generation rockets to lower costs.
In the field of reusable rockets, SpaceX in the United States is leading the way, with the first practical application seen on the Falcon 9. In Japan, Honda Research Institute successfully conducted its first domestic private-sector vertical takeoff and landing test experiment in June of last year.
RV-X is a small experimental reusable rocket developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), measuring approximately 7.3 meters in length and 1.8 meters in diameter. It is powered by liquid oxygen/liquid hydrogen engines, with its core mission being to validate vertical takeoff and precision landing guidance control technologies, accumulating data for the commercialization of low-cost recoverable rockets in the early 2030s.
JAXA is jointly conducting the CALLISTO reusable vehicle verification program with France’s CNES and Germany’s DLR (Japanese contribution includes the RV-X airframe and the liquid oxygen stage).
This rocket is approximately 7.3 meters long and 1.8 meters in diameter, using liquid oxygen plus liquid hydrogen as propellants, designed for low-altitude (around 10-meter level) hover, lateral maneuvering, and precision landing tests.
The test aims to verify vertical recovery technology required for high-frequency, short-interval launches. The long-term goal is to reduce launch costs and eventually replace or supplement the H3 rocket system.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1870370509066240/
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