TOKYO, Japan – Honda, a company long synonymous with reliable cars and motorcycles, has quietly made a significant stride in the burgeoning private space race. On June 17, 2025, Honda R&D Co., Ltd., the automaker’s research and development arm, successfully conducted a launch and landing test of an experimental reusable rocket. This achievement, marking Honda’s first controlled rocket landing after reaching an altitude of nearly 300 meters, signals a serious entry into a field increasingly dominated by innovative private ventures.
Precision in the Sky: A Flawless Test Flight
The test, conducted at Honda’s facility in Taiki Town, Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan, was designed to demonstrate key technologies vital for rocket reusability. The experimental rocket, measuring 6.3 meters in length and 85 centimeters in diameter with a wet weight of 1,312 kg, performed with remarkable precision.
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The rocket achieved its intended altitude, reaching 271.4 meters.
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It landed within a mere 37 centimeters of its target touchdown point.
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The entire flight duration was a concise 56.6 seconds, providing critical data during both ascent and descent.
This successful demonstration of flight stability during ascent and descent, coupled with pinpoint landing capability, positions Honda as a noteworthy contender in the reusable rocket arena.
Test being conducted by Honda Engineers in Taiki Town in Hokkaido, Japan (May, 2025)Safety First in “Space Town”
Taiki Town, a self proclaimed “space town” in southeastern Hokkaido, has been a hub for various aviation and space related tests. Honda emphasized its commitment to safety during the operation, a priority maintained since beginning engine combustion and hovering tests in the region in 2024.
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A restricted area with a 1-kilometer radius was established around the launch site.
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Access was strictly controlled through signs, gates, and security personnel.
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The restricted zone included a buffer to account for potential fall areas, blast waves, debris, or fireballs, adhering to guidelines set by the Cabinet Office of the Government of Japan.
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The experimental rocket was equipped with a safety system to prevent any deviation from its predefined flight corridor, speed, and attitude conditions, ensuring no impact beyond the restricted area.
Honda’s Vision Beyond the Road
This rocket test is part of a broader strategic push by Honda into space technologies, a vision announced in 2021. The company views space as a new frontier to leverage its core technologies, such as combustion and control systems honed through decades of automotive and power product development.
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Honda aims to contribute to people’s daily lives by launching satellites with its own rockets.
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These satellites could enable various services compatible with Honda’s existing businesses.
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The company is also researching a circulative renewable energy system and key robotic technologies for use in outer space.
While Honda’s rocket research remains in a fundamental phase with no immediate commercialization plans, the company has set an ambitious technological development goal: to achieve suborbital launch capability by 2029.
First flight, Launch and landing test – Copyright, Honda 2025Toshihiro Mibe, Global CEO of Honda, remarked, “We are pleased that Honda has made another step forward in our research on reusable rockets with this successful completion of a launch and landing test. We believe that rocket research is a meaningful endeavor that leverages Honda’s technological strengths.” His statement underscores Honda’s long term commitment to pushing the boundaries of engineering, extending its reach from ground transportation to the cosmos. As the demand for satellite services continues to grow, Honda’s entry into reusable rocket technology signals a significant shift in the landscape of private space exploration.
