Global Reusability Milestones

Japan’s space agency JAXA has successfully conducted the first lift-off and landing test of its prototype reusable rocket. China has achieved its first successful reusable rocket landing, and SpaceX’s Falcon 9 in operational reusable rocket technology.

Reusable Rocket and Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV): 

Dimension	Key Details
Operational technology reference	SpaceX Falcon 9 comprises operational reusable rocket technology.
Rocket (launch vehicle)	A rocket comprises a vehicle used to carry a spacecraft from Earth’s surface to space, and is sometimes called a launch vehicle.
Reusable rocket	A reusable rocket comprises a rocket designed to recover and reuse some or all of its components after launch, instead of discarding them.
Component focus	A reusable rocket comprises component recovery and reuse that primarily covers the first-stage booster.
Benefits	Reusing rocket components provides for reduced launch costs, improved mission frequency, and enhanced sustainability of space missions.
India: ISRO programme	ISRO’s Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) programme provides for development of low-cost reusable space transportation.
India: RLV-LEX	RLV-LEX has successfully demonstrated autonomous runway landing technology.