By Chetna Gill
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| Cover Image Attribute: Launch and landing test of Honda's rocket (June 17, 2025) / Source: Honda R&D Co., Ltd. |
On June 17, 2025, at 4:15 p.m. local time, Honda R&D Co., Ltd., the research and development arm of Honda Motor Co., Ltd., marked a significant milestone in its exploration of space technologies by successfully conducting a launch and landing test of an experimental reusable rocket at its testing facility in Taiki Town, Hokkaido, Japan. The 6.3-meter-long, 85-centimeter-wide rocket, weighing 900 kilograms dry and 1,312 kilograms wet, ascended to an altitude of 271.4 meters, remained airborne for 56.6 seconds, and landed just 37 centimeters from its target touchdown point. This test, the first of its kind for Honda, demonstrated critical technologies for rocket reusability, including flight stability during ascent and descent and precise landing capabilities. The achievement represents a step forward in Honda’s broader ambition to contribute to space exploration while leveraging its expertise in combustion, control, and automated driving technologies developed through decades of automotive and mobility innovation.
The test took place at Honda’s facility in Taiki Town, a location in Hokkaido’s Hiroo District that has become a hub for the company’s rocket research since 2024. Over the past year, Honda has conducted engine combustion and hovering tests at the site, prioritizing safety in collaboration with local authorities and residents. For this launch, stringent safety measures were implemented, including the establishment of a restricted area with a one-kilometer radius around the test site. Access was controlled through signs, gates, and security personnel, with the restricted zone calculated to account for potential risks such as thrust failure, debris dispersion, or explosions, based on guidelines from Japan’s Cabinet Office. The rocket itself was equipped with a safety system to ensure it remained within a predefined flight corridor, maintaining control over speed and attitude to prevent any impact beyond the designated area. These precautions reflect Honda’s commitment to responsible testing as it ventures into the complex and high-stakes field of aerospace.
Honda’s foray into rocket development began in 2021, driven by a vision to expand the company’s technological reach beyond terrestrial mobility into the realm of outer space. Inspired by the aspirations of young engineers within the company, Honda’s leadership saw an opportunity to apply its core competencies—honed through years of developing engines, control systems, and autonomous technologies—to the challenges of space exploration. The company views space as an environment where it can push the boundaries of innovation, creating new value that enhances people’s lives by transcending the constraints of time, place, and ability. Specifically, Honda is exploring reusable rockets as a means to launch satellites that could support a range of services, from telecommunications to environmental monitoring, which could complement its existing businesses in automotive, robotics, and renewable energy systems.
As per the company press release, the rocket’s performance met the company’s expectations, achieving stable flight and a precise landing while collecting valuable data on ascent and descent dynamics. This data will inform future iterations of the rocket, as Honda continues to refine the technologies necessary for reusable launch vehicles. Unlike traditional rockets, which are typically single-use and discarded after launch, reusable rockets are designed to return to Earth intact, significantly reducing the cost of space missions. This approach has gained traction in the global space industry, with companies like SpaceX leading the way through innovations such as the Falcon 9, and others, including Blue Origin and emerging players in China and Europe, pursuing similar goals. Honda’s entry into this competitive field underscores the growing interest in reusable launch systems as a cornerstone of sustainable and cost-effective space exploration.
While Honda’s rocket program remains in the fundamental research phase, the company has set a clear goal of achieving the technological capability for a suborbital launch by 2029. A suborbital flight, which reaches the edge of outer space without entering orbit, would mark a significant achievement for Honda, positioning it as a player in the rapidly evolving space industry. However, Honda has been careful to temper expectations, noting that no decisions have been made regarding the commercialization of its rocket technologies. The focus for now is on advancing the technical foundations, with an emphasis on leveraging Honda’s expertise in areas such as combustion efficiency, flight control, and safety systems. This measured approach reflects the complexity of rocket development, which requires not only engineering breakthroughs but also rigorous testing and validation to ensure reliability and safety.
The broader context of Honda’s efforts reveals a dynamic and competitive landscape in the global space sector. The demand for satellite launches is expected to grow in the coming years, driven by the increasing reliance on satellite-based data for communication, navigation, climate monitoring, and other applications. Reusable rockets are seen as a key enabler of this expansion, offering a more sustainable and economically viable alternative to traditional launch systems. In Japan, the government has recognized the strategic importance of the space industry, establishing a multibillion-dollar venture fund to support private companies developing rockets, satellites, and related technologies. The goal is to double the size of Japan’s space industry to 8 trillion yen (approximately $55.2 billion) by the early 2030s, fostering innovation and global competitiveness.
Honda is not alone in its ambitions within Japan’s burgeoning space ecosystem. Tokyo-based startup Innovative Space Carrier recently announced plans to test a prototype reusable rocket in the United States, using an American-made engine, with a launch scheduled for December 2025. Similarly, Toyota, the world’s largest automaker by sales and Honda’s domestic rival, has entered the space race through an investment by its research arm in Taiki-based Interstellar Technologies, a company focused on mass-producing launch vehicles. These developments highlight the growing convergence of automotive and aerospace expertise, as companies like Honda and Toyota leverage their engineering prowess to address the challenges of space exploration.
Toshihiro Mibe, Honda’s Global CEO, expressed optimism about the company’s progress, emphasizing the significance of the successful test as a step toward realizing Honda’s vision for space technologies. He underscored the company’s commitment to using its technological strengths to create new value, not only through innovative products but also by addressing environmental and safety challenges. Mibe’s comments reflect Honda’s broader philosophy of pursuing “dreams” and “potential” through innovation, a mindset that has guided the company’s evolution from a motorcycle manufacturer to a global leader in mobility solutions. The rocket program, while still in its early stages, embodies this ethos, representing a bold attempt to redefine what a company like Honda can achieve in the 21st century.
As Honda continues its research, the path to 2029 will likely involve further tests, refinements, and collaborations with partners in academia, industry, and government. The data gathered from the June 17 test will be critical in shaping the next phases of development, particularly in optimizing the rocket’s design for reliability and efficiency. While the prospect of a suborbital launch remains years away, the successful landing in Taiki Town demonstrates that Honda is making tangible progress toward its goals. The company’s focus on reusable rockets aligns with global trends toward sustainability in space exploration, where reducing costs and environmental impacts is increasingly important.
On the other hand, for the residents of Taiki Town, Honda’s rocket tests have become a source of local pride, even as they require careful coordination to ensure safety and minimize disruption. The cooperation of local authorities and communities has been instrumental in enabling Honda to conduct its experiments, and the company claims that its transparent approach to safety has helped build trust. As the space industry continues to evolve, Taiki Town may emerge as a key hub for Japan’s aerospace ambitions, with Honda at the forefront of this transformation.
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