Honda Achieves Major Milestone in Reusable Rocket Development with Successful Launch & Landing Test in Japan

TOKYO, Japan — In a bold leap toward the stars, Honda has officially entered the space race. In a landmark announcement, Honda revealed it has successfully completed a launch and landing test of its prototype reusable rocket—marking a significant stride toward its goal of achieving suborbital spaceflight by 2029.

This month, Honda R&D, the innovation arm of Japan’s second-largest automaker, conducted the successful test at its aerospace testing grounds in Taiki, Hokkaido—a town rapidly emerging as a hub for Japanese space exploration. The experimental reusable launch vehicle (RLV), measuring 6.3 metres (20.6 feet), reached an altitude of 271 metres (889 feet) before executing a safe and controlled landing.

This accomplishment places Honda among a growing list of global players developing reusable rocket technology, long dominated by names like SpaceX and Blue Origin. However, unlike its competitors, Honda’s ambition is uniquely positioned at the intersection of automotive innovation and spaceflight advancement.

“While no decisions have been made regarding the commercialization of these rocket technologies, Honda will continue its research and development with the aim of enabling suborbital launches by 2029,” the company stated.

Honda’s Vision: Rocket Science that Benefits Daily Life

Honda initially announced in 2021 that it was exploring reusable rocket technology, but June’s test marks the first public milestone in that effort. According to the company, its long-term vision is to leverage in-house launch capabilities to deploy satellites—paving the way for advanced mobility services, data communications, and interconnectivity that align with its broader technology goals, including autonomous driving, AI, and robotics.

This initiative could also synergize with ASIMO OS, the new operating system named after Honda’s iconic humanoid robot, which is set to power the automaker’s next-generation electric vehicles and potentially even future space systems.

Japan’s Expanding Space Frontier

Honda’s breakthrough comes at a time of rapidly expanding interest in Japan’s private space sector. The Japanese government is investing heavily in new space technologies, with a multibillion-dollar fund aiming to double the size of the country’s space industry to ¥8 trillion (~US$55 billion) by the early 2030s.

Meanwhile, Toyota has partnered with Taiki-based Interstellar Technologies to support the mass production of rockets—signalling that Japan’s major automakers see real opportunity beyond Earth’s atmosphere.

With competition heating up across Asia, Europe, and North America, Honda’s entry into the reusable rocket market signifies a major shift in how automakers contribute to global space exploration.