Hokkaido, Japan: The automobile company Honda has stepped into the space tech with its first rocket test. The company successfully launched and landed its first experimental reusable rocket on June 17, 2025, around 16:15 local time. This milestone marks the company’s formal entry into the space technology sector, signaling a new direction built on its core engineering strengths.
The rocket, designed and developed by Honda R&D Co., Ltd., reached an altitude of 271.4 meters and returned safely, landing just 37 centimeters from the target. The entire flight lasted 56.6 seconds. This achievement is more than a technical demonstration. It represents Honda’s commitment to mastering the key systems required for reusable spaceflight.
Through this test, the company aimed to validate core components, including ascent and descent stability and precise vertical landing. The rocket, measuring 6.3 meters in length and weighing 1,312 kilograms when fueled, performed within expected parameters.
Honda has been the biggest manufacturer of motorcycles since 2011, reaching a production of 500 million as of May 2025. It is also the world’s largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines. As of 2024, the company had a net revenue of 140,959 million dollars.
The company has been testing and evolving spaceflight technologies since 2021. The move into space builds on Honda’s deep expertise in robotics, combustion engines, and automated control systems. As data consumption and the use of satellite services increase, the need for efficient, cost-effective launch solutions grows in parallel. Honda sees reusable rockets not just as a scientific challenge but as a foundation for future services that may connect back to its broader business.
The rocket test was carried out in Taiki Town, located in southeastern Hokkaido, which has positioned itself as a key location for aerospace experiments. It is already home to activities by JAXA, academic institutions, and space startups. Honda’s entry adds momentum to the town’s vision of becoming Japan’s “space town.”
The test was carried out under tight safety measures. The company enforced a one-kilometer safety zone, calculated using government-approved models to account for possible malfunctions.
“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.” said Honda’s Global CEO, Toshihiro Mibe, in a statement.
