In a surprise announcement on June 17, 2025, Honda revealed the successful test of its prototype reusable rocket, marking a significant step towards the company's goal of achieving suborbital spaceflight by 2029 [1][2][3].

The test, conducted by Honda R&D, the research arm of Japan's second-largest automaker, took place at their facility in Taiki, a space town in northern Japan. The 6.3-meter (20.6-foot) experimental reusable launch vehicle reached an altitude of 271 meters (889 feet) before successfully landing [1][2][3].

Honda's statement emphasized that while this test represents progress, the company has not made any decisions regarding the commercialization of these rocket technologies. "Honda will continue making progress in the fundamental research with a technology development goal of realizing technological capability to enable a suborbital launch by 2029," the company stated [1][2][3].

This development comes four years after Honda's 2021 announcement that it was studying space technologies, including reusable rockets. However, the details of this launch test had not been previously disclosed [1][3].

A suborbital launch, which Honda aims to achieve by 2029, involves reaching the edge of space without entering orbit [1]. This milestone could potentially open new avenues for the automotive giant in the growing private space industry.

As global competition in the space sector intensifies, Honda's entry marks a notable shift for a traditional automaker. The success of this initial test positions Honda as a potential player in the reusable rocket market, currently dominated by companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin.

While Honda's exact plans for utilizing this technology remain unclear, the development of reusable rockets could have implications for various sectors, including satellite deployment, space tourism, and scientific research.

As Honda continues its research and development in this field, the global aerospace industry will be watching closely to see how this automotive giant's expertise in engineering and innovation translates to the realm of space technology.