Honda has taken a major step forward in its space technology ambitions by successfully conducting its first launch and landing test of an experimental reusable rocket.
The test was carried out by Honda R&D Co., Ltd., the research and development arm of Honda Motor Co., Ltd., at the company’s facility in Taiki Town, Hokkaido, Japan.
The rocket, developed entirely in-house by Honda engineers, reached an altitude of approximately 271.4 meters before making a controlled vertical landing just 37 centimeters from its designated target.
The entire flight lasted 56.6 seconds. This marks the first time Honda has successfully completed a launch and landing sequence with a rocket designed to be used multiple times.
The purpose of the test was to verify key technologies essential for reusability, including flight stability during both ascent and descent, as well as accurate landing capabilities.
According to Honda, the test met all intended performance benchmarks, and engineers were able to collect valuable flight data throughout the process.
Reusable rockets, unlike traditional expendable launch vehicles, are designed to return to Earth intact and be used again in subsequent launches. This approach is expected to lower costs and improve the sustainability of space transportation.
Honda’s rocket was equipped with a built-in safety system to ensure it remained within a predefined flight path and operated safely within a restricted 1-kilometer radius, in compliance with guidelines set by the Japanese government.
Honda’s venture into rocket development is part of a broader strategy to explore space technologies as a new frontier for innovation. The company began exploring the potential for space-related applications in 2021, inspired by a group of young engineers eager to apply Honda’s core technologies such as combustion systems and control mechanisms—to the field of aerospace.
Although the project remains in the research phase and there are no immediate plans for commercialization, Honda aims to achieve suborbital launch capability by 2029.
The company believes that, in the near future, the demand for satellite launches will continue to rise as global data usage increases, and that reusable rockets will play a key role in meeting that demand sustainably.
Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe said the test represented an important milestone in the company’s progress toward space innovation.
“We are pleased that Honda has made another step forward in our research on reusable rockets with this successful completion of a launch and landing test,” he said.
“Honda will continue to take on new challenges not only to offer our customers various services and value through our products, while addressing environmental and safety issues, but also to continue creating new value which will make people’s time and place more enjoyable.”
The test was conducted with the cooperation of local authorities and residents, as well as with strict safety measures in place. It adds momentum to Honda’s ambitions to become a serious player in the evolving space technology sector, where reusability and precision are seen as the future of spaceflight.
Shahriena Shukri is a journalist covering business and economic news in Malaysia, providing insights on market trends, corporate developments, and financial policies. More about Shahriena Shukri.
