Car giant’s space fight with Musk

One of the world’s biggest car makers has joined Elon Musk in the race to the stars.

One of the world’s biggest car makers has joined Elon Musk in the race to the stars.

Honda has officially entered the space race alongside Musk’s Space X, after Japan’s second largest carmaker announced it had successfully launched a ‘resusable rocket prototype’.

In the same week, a Space X rocket dramatically blew up while preparing to take flight, Honda showed it was serious about its space exploration ambitions, first mentioned four years ago.

Honda R&D, which is a subsidiary of Honda Motor Co. said it “conducted a launch and landing test of an experimental reusable rocket developed independently by Honda”.

Musk’s SpaceX rocket goes kablam. Picture X

The rocket, which was 6.3m long, 85cm in diameter and weighed 1312kg, reached an altitude of 271.4m and landed within 37cm of the target touchdown point after a flight of 57s.

According to Honda R&D, the purpose of the test, conducted at a Honda facility in Taiki Town on Hokkaido, the northern most of Japan’s main islands, was the “establishment of key technologies necessary for a reusable rocket”.

“This test marked the first launch and landing test conducted by Honda with an aim to demonstrate key technologies essential for rocket reusability, such as flight stability during ascent and descent, as well as landing capability,” Honda said in a statement.

Honda engineers prepare the rocket. Picture: Honda

Honda conducts a successful launch and landing test of its Experimental Reusable Rocket. Picture: Honda R&D

“Through this successful test, Honda achieved its intended rocket behaviours for the launch and landing, while obtaining data during the ascent and descent.”

Honda announced in 2021 that it was “pursuing research and development in the field of space technologies” with the thought that its discoveries could also be used in Honda vehicles.

That includes in regard to automated driving systems and sustainable transportation.

Honda is aiming at a suborbital launch by 2029.

“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,” Global CEO of Honda Toshihiro Mibe said.

“We believe that rocket research is a meaningful endeavour that leverages Honda’s technological strengths.

Honda said space tech is likely to be used in its future cars. Source: Supplied

“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.”

Originally published as Car giant’s space fight with Musk