- Japan’s space agency, JAXA, successfully landed its experimental Reusable Vehicle eXperiment (RV-X) rocket, lifting it 11 metres off the ground before an upright landing 16 metres away at its Noshiro Testing Center.
- This achievement marks the first time the Japanese space agency has managed a successful launch and landing of a rocket, representing a significant milestone for the country’s space programme.
- JAXA intends to conduct further tests with the RV-X, planning to send it to an altitude of approximately 100 metres before proceeding with future orbital launches.
- The successful test flight by JAXA occurred just one day after China also achieved a successful landing of its own reusable Long March 10B rocket, which utilised a sea-borne net-capture system for an actual satellite mission.
- Reusable rocket technology, initially pioneered by SpaceX, is transforming spaceflight by making access to space considerably cheaper, easier, and more sustainable through the recovery and reuse of booster components.
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