Japan to Test-Launch Reusable Rocket Prototype as It Seeks to Cut Costs

Japan's space agency will launch a reusable rocket prototype on Saturday as it works to reduce launch costs and respond to SpaceX-related technology. According to Jin10, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) will conduct the RV-X rocket test flight at its Noshiro Rocket Testing Center in Noshiro, Akita Prefecture. The launch had been planned for March this year but was postponed due to severe weather and equipment failures. JAXA has been developing reusable launch vehicle experiments since 2016 and carried out multiple engine burn tests last year. The agency aims to put lower-cost reusable rockets into practical use in the early 2030s and replace the H3 rocket as JAXA's main launch vehicle.