In 2019, Japan will be copying what SpaceX did in 2012 with the Grasshopper rocket tests.
Japan, China, Europe and Russia and other US competitors are all in a panic over the complete domination that SpaceX already has and how it will get even more dominant with the SpaceX BFR.
JAXA’s (Japan’s Space Agency) rocket for the test is 7 meters high and weighs 2 tons. It will take off via the 4-ton thrust force created by an engine that mixes and burns liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen.
The March 2019 test launch will send the rocket to about 100 meters in altitude. The rocket will then return to Earth and land vertically on its base.
JAXA plans another test launch to about 5 kilometers in altitude in the latter half of fiscal 2019.
During the course of the project, JAXA is scheduled to conduct a fuel-burning test in a facility located in Noshiro, Akita Prefecture. The test will check the durability of the engine, which will be repeatedly exposed to high temperatures during the flights.
U.S. venture company SpaceX slowly landed a large-sized rocket and recovered it intact in 2015. The company in 2017 launched the recovered rocket, carrying a commercial satellite.
Jeff Bezos Blue Origin has also succeeded in reusing a rocket after supersonic suborbital flight.
China is ramping up its reusable rocket tests and new designs will be optimized for reusability.
Brian Wang is a Futurist Thought Leader and a popular Science blogger with 1 million readers per month. His blog Nextbigfuture.com is ranked #1 Science News Blog. It covers many disruptive technology and trends including Space, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Anti-aging Biotechnology, and Nanotechnology.
Known for identifying cutting edge technologies, he is currently a Co-Founder of a startup and fundraiser for high potential early-stage companies. He is the Head of Research for Allocations for deep technology investments and an Angel Investor at Space Angels.
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