Japan on the path of SpaceX: New history created with reusable rocket; Will Elon Musk face competition?

Desk. Japan’s space agency JAXA on Saturday completed the first successful test flight campaign of its experimental reusable rocket. This achievement comes at a time when Japan is busy developing new technology to reduce the cost of space launch and compete with companies like SpaceX in the global space market. The rocket successfully took off, hovered in the air in a controlled manner, moved horizontally and then landed safely back on the ground.

The RV-X rocket took off from JAXA’s Noshiro test center in northeastern Japan. During the test flight, which lasted less than a minute, the rocket first gained altitude, then remained stable in the air for some time, then moved horizontally and finally made a safe landing. This entire test was telecast live by space lovers group NVS.

JAXA said it would share detailed results of the test during an online briefing on Saturday itself. This test is being considered an important achievement for Japan’s space program.

Japan has been trying for a long time to develop such technology that the rocket can be used multiple times. Elon Musk’s company SpaceX has drastically reduced the cost of space missions by using this technology for the last several years. Now Japan is also moving rapidly in the same direction so that it can establish its strong presence in the global launch market.

This test on Saturday is considered a big step towards developing new low-cost rockets for Japan. In the future, this technology will help in creating a more economical and modern alternative to the country’s current single-use H-3 rocket.

Just a day before this test, China’s state media had claimed that the country had also successfully recovered the first stage of a rocket for the first time after launch. In such a situation, the two big space powers of Asia are now seen moving forward rapidly in the race for reusable rocket technology.

Japan’s H-3 rocket has been made more economical than its older H-2A rocket. However, it is still considered necessary to further reduce its launch cost to compete effectively in the international space market.

The Japanese Government believes that reliable and commercially competitive access to space is vital to the country’s space program as well as national security. Therefore, reusable rocket technology is being considered an important part of the future strategy.

JAXA and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries are jointly developing the RV-X rocket. The diameter of this rocket is 1.8 meters and length is 7.3 meters. More durable engines have been installed in it and four shock absorbing landing gears have also been installed for safe landing.

JAXA is also working with France and Germany on reusable rocket technology. In the upcoming tests, it is planned to send the RV-X rocket to a height of about 100 meters, so that its capabilities can be further tested.