RV-X's first flight recorded in video

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) uploaded a video on October 14 showing the first flight of RV-X, a small reusable rocket demonstrator. The flight took place on July 11 at the Noshiro test center in Akita prefecture, northern Japan.

Details of the flight performance

The video shows the preparation, flight, and landing of RV-X. During the flight, the rocket reached about 11 meters in height and moved 16 meters horizontally while staying vertical. The entire flight lasted approximately forty seconds.

JAXA's reusable rocket development

The flight was part of JAXA's efforts to develop a reusable rocket, similar to those used by SpaceX. The agency emphasized a design focused on safety, allowing the vehicle to be quickly removed from danger after landing.

Preparation and testing before the flight

Before its first flight, RV-X underwent extensive ground testing, including a firing campaign in the summer of 2018 and another from March 2020 to September 2021. Drop tests were conducted to ensure the landing legs could handle the impact, and teams practiced handling and installation on the launch pad. The engine was ignited 166 times, including the flight, though JAXA first reported 165 ignitions before correcting the number.

Adjustments to the original flight plan

JAXA had originally planned for RV-X to reach 100 meters in altitude by October 2024, according to the Nikkei newspaper. However, a planned flight in March 2026 was canceled due to a failed quick disconnect fitting. On July 11, RV-X reached 11 meters, far below the original target. JAXA later adjusted its goal to about ten meters and ended the flight test series after analyzing the data.

Future plans with the Callisto project

The next step involves Callisto, a 13-meter reusable rocket demonstrator being developed by the French CNES space agency, the German DLR agency, and JAXA. Callisto is set to fly from Kourou, French Guiana. However, the program has faced delays, with DLR confirming in September that its first test flights, originally scheduled for 2026, are now expected in 2027. Before moving to French Guiana, the engine of Callisto must undergo firing tests at Noshiro, where RV-X flew.

China's first rocket stage recovery

On the same day as RV-X's flight, state media reported that China had successfully recovered the first stage of a rocket, the Long March 10B, using a net on a platform at sea after an orbital launch. For Japan, the challenge is to develop a reusable rocket that is less expensive than the current expendable H3 launcher, which is a key part of Japanese space efforts.