Hello and welcome to One Minute Space Briefing. Today we’re talking about Honda’s unexpected entry into the space race. On June 17th, Honda R&D successfully launched and landed a 20.6-foot reusable rocket prototype at its Taiki test site in northern Japan. The rocket reached 889 feet before a controlled descent and touchdown, demonstrating key technologies for stable ascent, descent, and re-landing.

Although still in “the fundamental research phase,” Honda has set its sights on “realizing technological capability to enable a suborbital launch by 2029.” This marks the automaker’s bold shift from cars to rockets. In recent months Honda also unveiled plans to test an electrolysis system on the ISS and partnered on in-orbit satellite refueling.

Global CEO Toshihiro Mibe summed it up: “We believe that rocket research is a meaningful endeavor that leverages Honda’s technological strengths.” That’s your one-minute briefing—thanks for listening!
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