Japan conducting studies for reusable next-gen rocket

[tbellman]

SpaceNews article:

Japan conducting studies for reusable next-gen rocket

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency is working on plans for a new, large and reusable launch vehicle as the core of its future space transportation plans.

The launcher will be designed jointly by JAXA and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI). It is to be reusable while also increasing payload capability and decreasing launch cost.

. . .

The fuel choice for the new rocket is however being studied. “Liquid methane is one of the candidates as well as liquid hydrogen,” JAXA said.

[Asteroza]

The rocket will need to be capable of delivering cargo vehicles to lunar orbit and landers to the surface of the moon, according to the policy document.

JAXA started research on a new generation rocket which has a function of reusability of the first stage with MHI

JAXA said it is targeting reducing cost per kilogram to low Earth orbit (LEO) by about half compared to H3.

So a Falcon 9 clone, or emulating Vulcan with SMART. Should we be calling it H-X since it's the designated H-3 successor as far as the MHI gravy train is concerned?

This, in the face of actually started long running RV-X/RVT reusability work, which is also behind schedule. Which has data deliverables to inform the work on ESA's Callisto and Prometheus projects, leading towards Ariane Next, the Ariane 6 follow-on.

[Pipcard]

Should we be calling it H-X since it's the designated H-3 successor as far as the MHI gravy train is concerned?

H-X was already the codename for H3.

[Zed_Noir]

Should we be calling it H-X since it's the designated H-3 successor as far as the MHI gravy train is concerned?

H-X was already the codename for H3.

Call the H-3 successor as the H-Next, until MHI puts out a name.

[Hyperion5]

SpaceNews article:

Japan conducting studies for reusable next-gen rocket

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency is working on plans for a new, large and reusable launch vehicle as the core of its future space transportation plans.

The launcher will be designed jointly by JAXA and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI). It is to be reusable while also increasing payload capability and decreasing launch cost.

. . .

The fuel choice for the new rocket is however being studied. “Liquid methane is one of the candidates as well as liquid hydrogen,” JAXA said.

Thanks for posting, tbellman! A liquid hydrogen fully reusable rocket would be an intriguing sight, especially since it won't be in the style of the only partially reusable rocket, the Shuttle. An aerospace engineering friend had calculated that you could roughly build an equivalent capability Starship massing roughly half of the original in the same volume. If hydrogen weren't so hard to handle and more expensive, I could see a strong case for larger reusable LVs using it. The main change would seem to be a reduction in launch infrastructure expenses needed to handle their thrust.

[trimeta]

Ars article on this topic:

Japan is studying a reusable rocket, but it won’t fly before 2030

[Pipcard]

This is not the first time reusable rockets were considered in Japan.

Reusable H-IIA proposal from 1996, with boosters landing on floating platforms
https://repository.exst.jaxa.jp/dspace/handle/a-is/26821

RLV-X, 2-stage proposal (with DC-X-like first stage) from 1995 (rendered by ansur_nied)
https://www.pixiv.net/en/artworks/30013694

[Asteroza]

Lets not forget the mini-Starship they were talking about not too long ago either...

https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=53261.0