Latest news with #spaceTechnology
CTV News
2 days ago
- Automotive
- CTV News
Honda conducts surprise reusable rocket test, aims spaceflight by 2029
Signage displayed at the Honda Motor Co. headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, Photographer: Kiyoshi Ota/Bloomberg TOKYO — Honda succeeded in a launch and landing test of its prototype reusable rocket on Tuesday, the Japanese company said in a surprise announcement, marking a milestone towards its 2029 goal of achieving a suborbital spaceflight. Honda R&D, the research arm of Japan's second-biggest carmaker, successfully landed its 6.3-meter (20.6-foot) experimental reusable launch vehicle after reaching an altitude of 271 meters (889 feet) at its test facility in northern Japan's space town Taiki, according to the company. While 'no decisions have been made regarding 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,' it said in a statement. Honda in 2021 said it was studying space technologies such as reusable rockets, but it has not previously announced the details of the launch test. A suborbital launch may touch the verge of outer space but does not enter orbit. Studying launch vehicles 'has the potential to contribute more to people's daily lives by launching satellites with its own rockets, that could lead to various services that are also compatible with other Honda business,' the company added. Reusable launch vehicles have been the driver of emerging commercial space missions over the past decade, led by SpaceX's Falcon 9, while its U.S. rivals including Blue Origin and companies in China and Europe also have reusable rocket plans. Tokyo-based startup Innovative Space Carrier last month said it will test-launch a prototype reusable rocket in the United States in December using an American engine. Honda's rival Toyota, the world's biggest automaker by sales, earlier this year announced an investment by its research arm in Taiki-based rocket maker Interstellar Technologies to support mass production of launch vehicles. Japan's government has established a multibillion-dollar space venture fund to subsidize private rockets, satellites and other missions, targeting to double its space industry's size to 8 trillion yen (US$55.20 billion) by the early 2030s. (Reporting by Kantaro Komiya; editing by David Evans)
CBS News
2 days ago
- Automotive
- CBS News
Honda hails successful test of reusable rocket as it looks to get into the space business
Tokyo — Japan's second-biggest carmaker, Honda, has successfully tested an experimental reusable rocket, the company says, as it seeks to expand into the space sector. Honda, which hopes to develop the tech prowess for a suborbital launch by 2029, conducted a test flight of its rocket on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. "The test was completed successfully, the first time Honda landed a rocket after reaching an altitude of nearly 300 meters (about 984 feet)," the company said in a statement on Tuesday. Honda's experimental reusable rocket is seen during what the company said was its successful test launch from the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido on on June 17, 2025. Honda R&D Co. Ltd. The prototype device, around six meters (20 feet) tall, landed only 37 centimeters (a little more than a foot) from its designated landing spot after the one-minute flight. Demand for satellite launch rockets is expected to increase in coming years as expectations grow for "a data system in outer space," the Honda statement said. "Honda has chosen to take on the technological challenge of developing reusable rockets by utilizing Honda technologies amassed in the development of various products and automated driving systems," it said. In the future, the rockets could be used to set up satellite-based communication tools and monitor environmental conditions such as global warming, Honda added. Elon Musk's SpaceX is known for its use of reusable rockets -- a fast-growing field with various companies worldwide racing to develop their own models. Japan's space agency, JAXA, is also on a mission to become a major player for satellite launches, including with its H3 rocket, which isn't reusable. Meanwhile, Japanese startups are vying to enter the busy field, including Space One, which in December suffered its second failed rocket launch.
Malay Mail
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Malay Mail
Honda enters space race as reusable rocket lands within centimetres of target in milestone test, eyes suborbital launch by 2029
TOKYO, June 18 — Japan's second-biggest carmaker Honda has successfully tested an experimental reusable rocket, the company said, as it seeks to expand into the space sector. Honda, which hopes to develop the tech prowess for a suborbital launch by 2029, conducted a test flight of its rocket on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. 'The test was completed successfully, the first time Honda landed a rocket after reaching an altitude of nearly 300 metres,' the company said in a statement yesterday. The prototype device, around six metres tall, landed only 37 centimetres from its designated landing spot after the one-minute flight. Demand for satellite launch rockets is expected to increase in the coming years as expectations grow for 'a data system in outer space', the Honda statement said. 'Honda has chosen to take on the technological challenge of developing reusable rockets by utilising Honda technologies amassed in the development of various products and automated driving systems,' it said. In future, the rockets could be used to set up satellite-based communication tools and to monitor environmental conditions such as global warming, Honda added. Elon Musk's SpaceX is known for its use of reusable rockets — a fast-growing field with various companies worldwide racing to develop their own models. Japan's space agency JAXA is also on a mission to become a major player for satellite launches, including with its H3 rocket, which is not reusable. Meanwhile Japanese startups are vying to enter the busy field, including Space One, which in December suffered its second failed rocket launch. — AFP
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Honda conducts surprise reusable rocket test, aims spaceflight by 2029
By Kantaro Komiya TOKYO (Reuters) -Honda succeeded in a launch and landing test of its prototype reusable rocket on Tuesday, the Japanese company said in a surprise announcement, marking a milestone towards its 2029 goal of achieving a suborbital spaceflight. Honda R&D, the research arm of Japan's second-biggest carmaker, successfully landed its 6.3-metre (20.6-foot) experimental reusable launch vehicle after reaching an altitude of 271 metres (889 feet) at its test facility in northern Japan's space town Taiki, according to the company. While "no decisions have been made regarding 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," it said in a statement. Honda in 2021 said it was studying space technologies such as reusable rockets, but it has not previously announced the details of the launch test. A suborbital launch may touch the verge of outer space but does not enter orbit. Studying launch vehicles "has the potential to contribute more to people's daily lives by launching satellites with its own rockets, that could lead to various services that are also compatible with other Honda business," the company added. Reusable launch vehicles have been the driver of emerging commercial space missions over the past decade, led by SpaceX's Falcon 9, while its U.S. rivals including Blue Origin and companies in China and Europe also have reusable rocket plans. Tokyo-based startup Innovative Space Carrier last month said it will test-launch a prototype reusable rocket in the United States in December using an American engine. Honda's rival Toyota, the world's biggest automaker by sales, earlier this year announced an investment by its research arm in Taiki-based rocket maker Interstellar Technologies to support mass production of launch vehicles. Japan's government has established a multibillion-dollar space venture fund to subsidise private rockets, satellites and other missions, targeting to double its space industry's size to 8 trillion yen ($55.20 billion) by the early 2030s. ($1 = 144.9200 yen)
Reuters
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Reuters
Honda conducts surprise reusable rocket test, aims spaceflight by 2029
TOKYO, June 17 (Reuters) - Honda (7267.T), opens new tab succeeded in a launch and landing test of its prototype reusable rocket on Tuesday, the Japanese company said in a surprise announcement, marking a milestone towards its 2029 goal of achieving a suborbital spaceflight. Honda R&D, the research arm of Japan's second-biggest carmaker, successfully landed its 6.3-metre (20.6-foot) experimental reusable launch vehicle after reaching an altitude of 271 metres (889 feet) at its test facility in northern Japan's space town Taiki, opens new tab, according to the company. While "no decisions have been made regarding 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," it said in a statement, opens new tab. Honda in 2021 said it was studying space technologies such as reusable rockets, but it has not previously announced the details of the launch test. A suborbital launch may touch the verge of outer space but does not enter orbit. Studying launch vehicles "has the potential to contribute more to people's daily lives by launching satellites with its own rockets, that could lead to various services that are also compatible with other Honda business," the company added. Reusable launch vehicles have been the driver of emerging commercial space missions over the past decade, led by SpaceX's Falcon 9, while its U.S. rivals including Blue Origin and companies in China and Europe also have reusable rocket plans. Tokyo-based startup Innovative Space Carrier last month said it will test-launch a prototype reusable rocket in the United States in December using an American engine. Honda's rival Toyota, the world's biggest automaker by sales, earlier this year announced an investment by its research arm in Taiki-based rocket maker Interstellar Technologies to support mass production of launch vehicles. Japan's government has established a multibillion-dollar space venture fund to subsidise private rockets, satellites and other missions, targeting to double its space industry's size to 8 trillion yen ($55.20 billion) by the early 2030s. ($1 = 144.9200 yen)
