Japan’s space agency said Saturday its prototype reusable rocket successfully completed the first liftoff and landing test, marking a step forward in the cost-cutting technology dominated by SpaceX.
The prototype, launched from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s (JAXA’s) test site in Noshiro, Akita Prefecture, reached a height of about 10 meters, and then landed.
The flight lasted about 40 seconds, according to JAXA.
I was about to say, didnt they do that last year? Looks like this is about Japan's official aerospace agency, not a Japanese company like Honda. If so, as of now does this mean that since...
I was about to say, didnt they do that last year? Looks like this is about Japan's official aerospace agency, not a Japanese company like Honda.
If so, as of now does this mean that since yesterday with China launching theirs, that we have only have two national agencies ever that have launched and landed a reuseable (and no the shuttle does not technically count here)?
That's not quite yet to the level of SpaceX or CASC but it is an encouraging step in that direction for JAXA.
The prototype, launched from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s (JAXA’s) test site in Noshiro, Akita Prefecture, reached a height of about 10 meters, and then landed.
That's not quite yet to the level of SpaceX or CASC but it is an encouraging step in that direction for JAXA.
This is amazing and I am going to continue to be a big fan of public resources and state actors being part of the space race
From the article:
I was about to say, didnt they do that last year? Looks like this is about Japan's official aerospace agency, not a Japanese company like Honda.
If so, as of now does this mean that since yesterday with China launching theirs, that we have only have two national agencies ever that have launched and landed a reuseable (and no the shuttle does not technically count here)?
That's not quite yet to the level of SpaceX or CASC but it is an encouraging step in that direction for JAXA.