Overview

• During a 56.6-second flight, Honda’s 6.3-meter rocket climbed to 271 meters and landed within 37 centimeters of its target
• The test at Honda’s Taiki Town, Hokkaido facility demonstrated both ascent stability and controlled descent key to reusable launch vehicles
• Honda R&D led the development but the company has yet to decide on commercializing its rocket technology
• This milestone places Honda alongside automotive and aerospace firms racing to cut launch costs through reusability ahead of its 2029 goal
• Japan’s government supports private space ventures with a multibillion-dollar fund aimed at doubling the nation’s industry to 8 trillion yen by the early 2030s