The Verge reports on a new competitor to Blue Origin, SpaceX, and Virgin Galactic in the reusable rocket game – one with a slightly longer legacy of success in mass-produced mechanical-engineering efforts. Honda has launched and landed its own reusable rocket:
The launch took place at a Honda test facility in Taiki Town, Japan, which the company says “has been developing itself as a ‘space town’ through the joint efforts of public and private sectors,” including the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The nearly 21-foot tall rocket, weighing over 2,800 pounds at launch, flew for 56.6 seconds before ”landing within 37cm of the target touchdown point” on its four retractable legs that also supported it at liftoff.
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A suborbital flight – upwards of 62 miles above sea level – will be a big achievement for the company, but that’s not enough altitude to successfully put a satellite into orbit. Honda will need to decide, based on what it takes to reach its 2029 goal including the cost of the program, if it wants to take the next step and compete with other private companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin that are capable of conducting orbital flights.
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Video at the link.