In a bizarre twist, Honda, the Japanese car manufacturer, took his engineering off-road and into space. The company launched and landed a prototype reusable rocket on Tuesday, June 17, marking a key milestone to its new goal of reaching a sub -orbital space flow by 2029.
In the surprise AnnouncementHonda R&D-The research arm of the company-said it successfully completed the first launch and landing test of its 20.6-foot (6.3-meter) experimental reusable launch vehicle after reaching an altitude of 889 feet (271 meters) at its provincial installation in Taiki, a town in northern Japan known. The test aimed at demonstrating technologies essential for rocket -relief, such as flight -stability during ascent and descent, as well as landing, according to the company.
“Although Honda Rocket Research is still in the fundamental research phase, and no decisions have been made about trading these rocket technologies, Honda will continue to progress in the fundamental research with a technological development goal of conducting technological capacity to enable suborbital launch by 2029,” the statement reads.
Honda first announced Tempted plans to build a small reusable rocket in September 2021 as part of an initiative to enter space technologies. In late 2024, the company established the Space Development Division at US Honda to promote technology development in the United States and improve cooperation with the US space industry.
Since then, Honda has been actively involved in the development of space flow tools. In April, the manufacturer announced plans to test an electrolysis system on the International Space Station (ISS) and build a regenerative fuel cell system to support life in space and on Earth. In May, Honda partnered With a private spacecraft company Astroscale Japan Inc. to develop a system for in-orbital satellite refueling.
However, the company has supported its progress of the spaceflow relatively quiet over the past several years, and has not publicly publicized launch details of its reusable rocket, which is why today’s announcement has come as such a surprise. Honda is not the only car manufacturer clam to enter the commercial space race. Earlier this year, Toyota announced that its research arm invested in the Taiki-based Spaceflight Company Interstellar Technologies to support massive production of launch vehicles, Reuters Reports
The Government of Japan set an ambitious goal to double the size of its space industry to 8 trillion yen ($ 55.20 billion) by the early 2030 years, according to Reuters. To achieve it, it established a multi-million-dollar space enterprise to subsidize private rockets, satellites and other missions.
Today’s launch and landing success sets up an optimistic tone for Honda’s budding space program. “We like that Honda took another step forward in our research on reusable rockets with this successful completion of launch and landing,” Toshihiro Mibe said in the announcement. “We believe that rocket research is a significant endeavor that uses Honda’s technology forces.”
