Japan Lands Reusable Rocket Day After China, Takes Aim at SpaceX’s Dominance
Japan has successfully completed the first lift-off and landing test of its prototype reusable rocket, a major milestone in its effort to develop cost-effective space launch technology. Conducted by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) at its Noshiro test site, the rocket reached an altitude of around 10 meters before landing safely after a 40-second flight. The achievement comes just a day after China showcased its own reusable rocket progress, highlighting the growing global race to challenge SpaceX’s dominance in reusable launch systems.