GX
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- This article is about a Japanese space launch vehicle. For other uses of the term, see GX (disambiguation).
The GX launch vehicle is a rocket currently under development by the Galaxy Express Corporation, a joint-venture between Lockheed Martin (LM), Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries (IHI), the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and several other Japanese companies. It will use the boost stage of the Atlas III rocket, provided by LM, and a newly-designed upper stage made by IHI. The upper stage will be fueled by liquefied natural gas (liquid methane) with liquid oxygen as an oxidizer, making it the only space vehicle to use such fuels.
GX began as a program to upgrade Japan's J1 rocket, which launched only once. Thus, GX was originally known as JII, albeit briefly. For a time, the program was termed J1-Upgrade, before finally settling on the current name in January of 2003.
The GX will launch from the spaceport on the island of Tanegashima, just south of Kyūshū, Japan.
Initial launch capability for GX is currently scheduled for summer 2010.
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