# H3 Rocket

Type: Product

Source: Space & Defense Intelligence Brief — https://getspacebrief.com/entity/h3-rocket
Canonical HTML page: https://getspacebrief.com/entity/h3-rocket

## Timeline

- **2026-07-11**: JAXA conducts first RV-X test flight — The RV-X experimental reusable rocket lifts off, hovers, translates 52 feet horizontally, and lands safely in under one minute at Noshiro Testing Center, reaching 36 feet altitude.
- **2026-07-10**: China achieves first rocket first-stage recovery — State media reports the first successful recovery of a rocket first stage after liftoff, marking China's entry into reusable launch vehicle technology.

## Recent coverage (1 stories)

### Japan's RV-X Hops 36 Feet: Reusable Rocket Race Heats Up Against China, SpaceX
2026-07-12 05:14:05 · Sentiment: Bullish · Impact: 7/10 · Sources: 3

JAXA's RV-X reusable rocket completed its first vertical takeoff, hover, and landing, reaching 36 feet altitude on July 11. The test comes one day after China's booster recovery, intensifying the three-way reusable race with SpaceX. The technology is aimed at fielding a low-cost successor to the H3 rocket, supporting Japan's space autonomy and national security.
Full story: https://getspacebrief.com/story/japan-rvx-reusable-rocket-first-test-36-ft

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