Move over, Musk—Japan just entered the reusable rocket race. In a move no one saw coming a decade ago, Honda, the company better known for sedans and motorbikes, has successfully launched and landed its first experimental reusable rocket. It’s a tiny vehicle, just over six meters long, but it may carry giant implications for the future of space travel—and for Honda’s future far beyond Earth.
On June 17, at a remote testing site in Taiki Town, northern Japan, the rocket reached an altitude of 271.4 meters before returning safely to the ground, landing just 37 centimeters from its target. This precise touchdown is no small feat, especially for a vehicle developed entirely in-house, using Honda’s own core technologies from automotive, robotics, and automated driving systems.
The Humble Rocket With Big Ambitions
At first glance, the rocket might seem modest. Standing 6.3 meters tall and weighing in at just over a metric ton, it’s not heading to orbit anytime soon. But this wasn’t about reaching the stars—it was about proving something much more fundamental: that Honda can make a rocket fly, land, and be reused with no outside partners.
For a car company, this is no joyride—it’s a clear sign of what’s coming. Honda has announced its goal: to develop a suborbital reusable rocket system by 2029. That would put it squarely in competition with private spaceflight pioneers such as Blue Origin and SpaceX. And with Japan’s government increasingly prioritizing space tech as part of national policy, Honda may be the country’s dark horse in a very fast race.
Why Honda, Why Now?
Honda’s move into space isn’t just about prestige. It’s about survival and opportunity. As data from space becomes the fuel of modern economies, from global internet coverage to disaster monitoring, the demand for low-cost, rapid satellite launches is skyrocketing. Literally.
Reusable rockets are the key to making those launches cheaper and more frequent. And Honda, with decades of experience in precision engineering, combustion systems, and control software, sees a once-in-a-generation opening.
More than that, it fits the company’s philosophy. As Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe put it: “We believe rocket research is a meaningful endeavor that leverages Honda’s technological strengths.” That includes sustainable energy systems, robotics, and autonomous navigation—all essential for long-term space missions.
From the Garage to the Stars
While companies like Toyota are exploring lunar rovers and partnerships with JAXA (Japan’s space agency), Honda’s strategy is more direct: build the rocket, launch the satellite, create the service. It’s end-to-end thinking, the kind that transformed the auto industry—and could now do the same in space.
Still, Honda remains cautious. The company says the project is in the “fundamental research” phase, with no formal commercialization plan—yet. But if the past is any indication, Honda doesn’t do things halfway. This is the same company that turned a lawnmower engine company into a global mobility powerhouse.
What’s Next?
The successful test didn’t just prove Honda’s rocket could fly. It proved Honda has entered the most elite club of aerospace innovators: companies that can land a rocket on Earth with surgical precision. That’s a bar even some well-funded startups still haven’t reached.
Suppose Honda follows through on its 2029 suborbital launch goal. In that case, we could soon be seeing the same company that makes your commuter car offering satellite launch services to governments and tech giants alike.
