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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. |