Experimental Ship Reached 300 Meters and Returned to Touchdown Target

Honda’s experimental reusable rocket has completed a launch and landing test, reaching an altitude of nearly 300 meters before returning to its targeted touchdown point. While the flight only lasted for around a minute, the technology was able to successfully demonstrate flight stability and landing capability.

“We are pleased that Honda has made another step forward in our research on reusable rockets with this successful completion of a launch and landing test,” stated Toshihiro Mibe, Global CEO of Honda. “We believe that rocket research is a meaningful endeavor that leverages Honda’s technological strengths.”

The vehicle, standing 6.3 meters tall and weighing just over 1,300 kg at liftoff, reached an altitude of 271.4 meters and landed just 37 cm from its target. The entire flight lasted 56.6 seconds, making it as short and controlled as Honda engineers had planned. It's not quite orbital spaceflight… but as far as experimental tests go, it’s a clear success.

The test focused on verifying essential technologies for future reusability, including stability during ascent and descent as well as landing accuracy. The company implemented a 1-kilometer restricted zone and deployed a range of safeguards, including signs, gates, and onsite personnel, before the test began. The rocket also featured automatic flight termination systems to ensure it stayed within its designated corridor.

This program isn’t just a hobby project: Honda has been quietly building toward space technology since 2021. Its work brings years of expertise in combustion systems, robotics, and autonomous controls to a longer-term goal: developing a reusable small launch vehicle.

The company sees satellite deployment as a future market it could support with in-house technology, though it remains firmly in the research phase. Meanwhile, Honda will continue to work towards suborbital flight, expected by 2029.

“Honda will continue to take on new challenges—not only to offer our customers various services and value through our products, while addressing environmental and safety issues, but also to continue creating new value which will make people’s time and place more enjoyable,” continued Mibe.

FMI: https://global.honda