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| Honda Successfully Launches and Lands Its Own Reusable Rocket – A New Challenger to SpaceX? |
Honda, a name long associated with cars and motorcycles, is now taking bold steps into space. On June 18, 2025, the company successfully launched and landed its first experimental reusable rocket in Taiki, Japan — a small town being developed as a “space city” with support from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and local authorities.
Standing 6.4 meters tall and weighing around 1.3 tons, the rocket reached a height of 271 meters, stayed in the air for 56.6 seconds, and landed with impressive accuracy — only 37 centimeters off the target point — using four foldable landing legs.
Automotive Tech Meets Aerospace
What sets this rocket apart is that Honda leveraged its automotive technologies, including autonomous driving and precision control systems, to guide and land the rocket. The same know-how used in building smart vehicles is now helping the company explore the edge of space.
Honda’s interest in space is tied to the growing demand for satellites, which could support various parts of its broader business — from smart mobility to communications. However, the company has not yet revealed a clear roadmap for commercializing its rocket technology.
Ambitious Goal: Suborbital Flight by 2029
Although the project is still in its research and development phase, Honda has set an ambitious target: achieving a suborbital flight (above 100 kilometers) by 2029. If successful, this could position Honda as a serious competitor to SpaceX and Blue Origin in the small satellite launch market.
Why This Matters
Honda’s breakthrough shows that space exploration is no longer limited to traditional aerospace giants. Companies from other industries — like automotive — are now bringing fresh perspectives and innovation to the space race. This signals a future where rockets, satellites, and smart vehicles may all be part of one interconnected technology ecosystem.
Honda’s successful rocket test marks a new era where automakers can become aerospace innovators. As the space industry continues to expand, players like Honda may soon offer more accessible and cost-effective launch options — pushing the boundaries of what’s possible both on the road and beyond Earth.
Stay tuned for more updates on how technology is transforming our world — and soon, our skies.
