In a historic technological breakthrough, Honda R&D, the research and development arm of Honda Motor Co., has achieved a major milestone in the global aerospace race. On June 17, the company successfully conducted the launch and landing test of its independently developed experimental reusable rocket, marking the first time Honda has executed a controlled landing after reaching an altitude of nearly 300 meters.
This marks a significant leap for the Japanese automotive giant, which has been quietly expanding its horizon beyond mobility into next-generation aerospace engineering. The test demonstrates Honda’s capability to compete in one of the world’s most advanced technological fields: reusable rocket systems.
With this achievement, Honda joins an exclusive group of companies that have mastered vertical rocket landing technology — a group previously dominated by SpaceX, Blue Origin, and a handful of emerging Chinese private space startups. Honda is now officially the first company outside the United States and China to demonstrate this capability, placing Japan firmly on the map of reusable spaceflight innovators.
During the test, Honda’s rocket took off smoothly, ascended to the planned altitude of approximately 300 meters, hovered, and then executed a precise vertical landing. Engineers say the test validates Honda’s Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) systems, as well as its proprietary thrust-vectoring and landing algorithms developed in-house.
Honda’s entry into reusable rocketry is part of a broader long-term strategy that includes:
Low-Earth-orbit satellite launch systems
High-efficiency electric propulsion research
AI-assisted navigation for future autonomous space missions
Industry experts describe Honda’s successful landing as a “game-changer” for Japan’s private aerospace sector, which has been working to compete with rapidly growing space companies in China, the U.S., and Europe.
As nations and corporations race to improve access to space, Honda’s achievement signals a major shift: reusable rockets may soon be developed by mobility companies, not just aerospace giants.
Honda’s innovation not only expands its technological portfolio but also opens new doors for Japan in the global space economy from satellite deployment to cost-efficient commercial missions.
With its first landing now validated, Honda is preparing for higher-altitude tests and more complex flight trials in the coming months.
A new player has officially arrived in the world of reusable rocketry and it comes from the same company that builds some of the world’s most trusted cars and motorcycles.
