Honda successfully launched and landed a reusable rocket in Japan
Honda has unexpectedly reported a successful test of its experimental rocket in Japan. The vehicle, called the Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV), flew to a height of 271.4 metres and then landed just 37 centimetres from the target point. The entire test took just under a minute - 56.6 seconds.
Here's What We Know
According to Honda, the goal of the test was to "demonstrate key technologies needed to reuse the rocket, such as flight stability during ascent and descent, as well as landing capability," and the company says it succeeded. All of this is critical if you want to build reusable launchers.
Honda RLV. Photo: Honda
Interestingly, Honda officially started talking about space development back in 2021. Now the company says it wants to make a suborbital launch by 2029. So far, this is only basic research, and there is no talk of commercialisation. But steps in that direction are already being taken.
Thus, Honda joins a large group of companies interested in reusable rockets. Besides Spacex, the leader in reusable rockets, the list includes Blue Origin, Rocket Lab, ArianeGroup and others.
Honda said that interest in using data from orbit is expected to grow in the future. Consequently, the demand for satellite launches and launch vehicles will increase even more.
Source: Honda
