“Honda’s Giant Leap – From Cars to Space”. (Short Video #4)

In a stunning move beyond automobiles, Honda has made history—becoming the first private company in Japan to launch and land a reusable rocket.

On June 17, 2025, Honda’s experimental rocket lifted off from Taiki Town in Hokkaido, Japan’s unofficial “space hub.” The compact 6.3-meter rocket climbed nearly 900 feet into the air before descending with pinpoint precision—landing just 37 centimeters from its target. The entire flight lasted under a minute, but it marked a giant leap for Honda, and for Japan’s growing space ambitions.

This wasn’t a flashy commercial launch. It was a technical validation—proving that Honda’s propulsion, flight control, and autonomous landing systems all work in harmony. The same company known for motorcycles, engines, and self-driving tech has now stepped into aerospace.

Honda’s goal? To reach suborbital flight—crossing the 100-kilometer Kármán line—by 2029. That would enable future small-satellite missions and other commercial space applications.

While companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin dominate the orbital space race, Honda is starting small, focusing on reusable suborbital platforms. And they’re doing it by leveraging their automotive expertise—combustion control, robotics, and automation.

This move also aligns with Japan’s national strategy to expand its private space sector. Honda’s success puts them ahead of domestic rivals and shows how innovation can come from unexpected directions.

From highways to the heavens, Honda is proving that the road to space may begin with four wheels—but doesn’t end there.

Видео “Honda’s Giant Leap – From Cars to Space”. (Short Video #4) канала OpennUp