Overview

• On June 17, Honda conducted its first launch-and-landing test of a 6.3-meter experimental reusable rocket at its Taiki test facility.
• The rocket reached an altitude of 271.4 meters during a 56.6-second flight and landed within 37 centimeters of its designated touchdown point.
• The trial demonstrated flight stability in both ascent and descent phases along with precise landing capability, core requirements for reusability.
• Honda’s rocket research remains in the fundamental phase with no commercialization decisions yet taken but is aimed at achieving suborbital spaceflight by 2029.
• The successful test places Honda alongside SpaceX and Blue Origin in the reusable rocket sector and aligns with Japan’s push to grow its private space industry.