Honda has become Japan’s first private company to launch and land a reusable rocket.
Culture
June 18, 2025
In a surprising leap into the aerospace sector, Honda R&D Co., Ltd., the research and development arm of Honda Motor Co., Ltd., successfully conducted a launch and landing test of an experimental reusable rocket on June 17, 2025, at its facility in Taiki Town, Hokkaido, Japan. The test, announced as a milestone toward achieving suborbital spaceflight by 2029, marks the first time Honda has launched and landed a rocket, reaching an altitude of 271.4 meters and landing within 37 centimeters of its target. This achievement underscores Honda’s ambitions to diversify its technological portfolio beyond automotive innovation, leveraging its expertise in combustion, control, and automated driving systems to explore sustainable space transportation.
Test Details and Technical Achievements
The experimental reusable rocket, measuring 6.3 meters in length, 85 centimeters in diameter, and weighing 900 kilograms dry (1,312 kilograms with fuel), was launched at 4:15 p.m. JST from Honda’s testing facility in Taiki Town, a location known as Japan’s “space town” due to its history of aerospace research by organizations like JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency). The rocket ascended to 271.4 meters, remained airborne for 56.6 seconds, and executed a precise propulsive landing, missing its target touchdown point by just 37 centimeters—well within the company’s goal of landing within 5 meters.
The test aimed to validate key technologies for rocket reusability, including:
- Flight Stability: Ensuring control during ascent and descent, critical for reusable launch vehicles (RLVs) that must maintain a vertical orientation.
- Landing Capability: Demonstrating precise landing systems, likely involving advanced navigation and propulsion control, similar to those pioneered by SpaceX’s Falcon 9.
- Data Collection: Gathering performance data to refine future designs, focusing on reliability and efficiency.
Honda’s press release emphasized that the rocket was developed independently, highlighting the company’s ability to apply its automotive engineering prowess to aerospace challenges. The test’s success has been celebrated on platforms like X, with users like
@ninokarotta
calling it “a tiny hop for Mankind, but in a good direction,” and
expressing astonishment at Honda’s entry into reusable rocket development.
Safety Measures and Local Collaboration
Honda prioritized safety during the test, implementing stringent measures in coordination with Taiki Town authorities and residents. A 1-kilometer radius restricted area was established around the test site, secured with signs, gates, and personnel. The restricted zone was calculated to account for potential rocket deviations, blast waves, debris, or fireballs, adhering to guidelines from Japan’s Cabinet Office. The rocket was equipped with a safety system to prevent deviations from its predefined flight corridor, ensuring no impact beyond the restricted area. These measures build on Honda’s prior experience conducting engine combustion and hovering tests in Taiki Town since 2024.
Taiki Town, located in southeastern Hokkaido, has emerged as a hub for aerospace innovation, hosting tests by JAXA, universities, and private companies like Interstellar Technologies. The town’s support for Honda’s rocket program reflects its broader ambition to become a global “space town.” Local residents have expressed pride in these developments, though tests require careful coordination to minimize disruption.
Honda’s Space Ambitions
Honda’s foray into reusable rockets began in 2019 with the formation of a dedicated space development team, inspired by young engineers eager to apply Honda’s core technologies—such as combustion and control systems—to space exploration. The company views reusable rockets as a means to meet the growing demand for satellite launches, particularly for communication, navigation, and climate monitoring. Unlike traditional expendable launch vehicles (ELVs), reusable rockets promise to reduce costs and environmental impacts, aligning with global trends toward sustainable space exploration.
While Honda’s test rocket reached only 271.4 meters—far below the 100-kilometer boundary of space—the successful landing demonstrates progress toward a suborbital flight by 2029. A suborbital launch would reach the edge of space without entering orbit, similar to Blue Origin’s New Glenn missions. Honda has not yet committed to commercializing its rocket technology, emphasizing that it remains in the fundamental research phase. However, the company sees potential synergies with its existing businesses, such as satellite-based services that could enhance navigation or connectivity for Honda vehicles.
Toshihiro Mibe, Honda’s Global CEO, commented, “We are pleased that Honda has made another step forward in our research on reusable rockets… We believe that rocket research is a meaningful endeavor that leverages Honda’s technological strengths.” Mibe highlighted the potential for rockets to create “new value” for customers, complementing Honda’s efforts in environmental and safety initiatives.
Japan’s Growing Space Ecosystem
Honda’s achievement comes amid a surge of interest in Japan’s private space sector. The Japanese government has set an ambitious goal to double its space industry to 8 trillion yen (approximately $55.2 billion) by the early 2030s, supported by a multibillion-dollar venture fund for private rockets and satellites. Honda’s domestic rival, Toyota, has also entered the space race, investing in Taiki-based Interstellar Technologies to mass-produce launch vehicles. Meanwhile, startups like Innovative Space Carrier are planning reusable rocket tests, signaling a convergence of automotive and aerospace expertise in Japan.
The global demand for satellite launches is driving this momentum, with reusable rockets seen as a cost-effective solution for deploying megaconstellations of microsatellites. Honda’s test aligns with this trend, positioning the company to potentially compete with established players like SpaceX, which has set the standard for reusable rocket technology with its Falcon 9.
Future Outlook
Honda plans to use data from the June 17 test to refine its rocket design, with further tests and potential collaborations with academia, industry, and government expected before 2029. While the company’s current prototype is small, its success in achieving precise landing control suggests potential for scaling up. The test’s modest altitude of 271.4 meters is a starting point, with future iterations likely targeting higher altitudes to reach suborbital space.
As Honda advances, it faces competition not only from global giants like SpaceX but also from domestic players like Interstellar Technologies. The company’s focus on sustainability and cost reduction aligns with industry trends, but commercialization remains uncertain. For now, Honda’s test is a proof-of-concept, demonstrating that an automotive giant can make meaningful strides in aerospace.
Honda’s successful launch and landing test in Taiki Town marks a significant milestone in its journey toward suborbital spaceflight by 2029. By applying its automotive expertise to reusable rocket technology, Honda is contributing to Japan’s burgeoning space ecosystem and the global push for sustainable space exploration. While commercialization is not yet confirmed, the test’s precision and safety measures highlight Honda’s engineering capabilities. As the company builds on this achievement, it could redefine its role in the space industry, potentially transforming from a carmaker into a space contender. For more details, see coverage from Reuters or Honda’s official statement.
