Honda Launches Its First Reusable Rocket

• In mid-June 2025, Honda startled the world with a reusable rocket, not a new vehicle or motorcycle. On June 17, Honda R&D Co., the automaker's research arm, successfully launched and landed a tiny rocket at its facility in Taiki Town, Hokkaido, Japan, ushering in a bold new chapter for the firm.

What happened? 

• Launch and Landing Details Date and location: June 17, 2025, in Taiki Town, a territory that is actively growing as a "space town" with support from JAXA and commercial enterprises. 

 Rocket Dimensions: 6.3m (21ft) tall, 85cm in diameter, and weighs approximately 1,312kg dry (1,900+kg fully fueled). 

 Flight Stats: It rose to 271m (890ft), hovered briefly, and landed upright within 37cm (15in) of the target after a 56.6-second flight.

Why It Matters ?

• It is the first reusable rocket test by a Japanese business, as well as the first vertical landing with such precision outside of the United States and China. Honda achieved all of its test objectives: controlled ascent/descent, hover, and precision landing—a compelling proof of concept.

🇯🇵 Why Honda? 

• You might question why a car firm is developing rockets. Here are Honda's reasoning. 

 1. Core Technology in a New Field. Honda has traditionally excelled in combustion engines, flight control, and robotics. Its engineers believed that similar skills could be applied to rocketry. 

 2. Space R&D. Since 2021, Honda has stated its space aspirations, focused on rocket technology, space robotics, and renewable energy in space. 

 3. Increasing Satellite Demand With more satellites being launched for communications and Earth monitoring, Honda sees an opportunity to assist with satellite launches—and potentially incorporate that data into its larger business, such as mobility and environmental sensing. 

 4. 2029 Suborbital Goal Honda aims to achieve suborbital flight by 2029. Today's test validates the crucial first stages.

Safety and Test Setup 

• Honda did not rush this. Since 2024, they have conducted engine and hover tests at Taiki. 

• Regarding the June launch: They established a 1-kilometer restricted safety zone with barricades and security, following national safety regulations. The rocket had a built-in safety system that kept it on a fixed path and prevented it from entering restricted zones. These steps demonstrated that Honda is serious about safety, even in early studies.

🌍 Global and local context. 

• Global Technology Race Reusable rockets represent the future of space. SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Chinese and European companies are leading the way. Chinese companies such as Sepoch and Landspace recently tested liquid-metal reusable rockets and methane-powered boosters in late 2024-2025. Honda's coordination-free test contrasts with its competitors' spectacular launches.

Japan’s space scene 

• Taiki is currently a space tech hotspot, with JAXA, startups, and private labs testing rockets since earlier this decade. Companies such as Interstellar Technologies and Toyota are also at the forefront of space development in Japan. The Japanese government funds private space research and development through a multibillion-yen venture fund, with the goal of doubling industry value by the early 2030s.

Honda's Identity Meets Rocket Science.

• Honda is well-known for its automobiles, motorcycles, and even HondaJet private jets. With rockets, they are taking that skill even farther. The rocket adopted automatic control technologies similar to those seen in automobiles. 

• Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe described the effort as a "meaningful endeavor," leveraging Honda's assets to bring enjoyment and value—whether on the road or in space. They're looking into space robotics, lunar energy systems, and satellite launches—all with technology originally designed for Earthly use.