Honda, the second Japanese car manufacturer, now shows ambitions in the aerospace industry, after successfully completing the proof of an experimental rocket reusable for a “suborbital launch” by 2029. The rocket, about 6 meters high, was 300 meters above sea level and remained in a vertical position during its descent, Honda said in a statement. The prototype emerged softly only 37 centimeters from the planned landing point.
With this test flight of a minute, carried out on the island of Hokkaido in northern Japan, Honda becomes the first private company in the country where a rocket is stolen at this altitude and bringing it back in security, said the Nikkei Economic newspaper. When exploring a sector beyond the automotive industry, Honda focuses on the greater demand for expected satellite launch rockets in the coming years, while climate communication or surveillance systems are growing from space.
Other Japanese competitors
The Japanese group “has chosen to assume this technological challenge (…) using technologies acquired during the development of various products (cars) and automated driving systems,” said Honda. He will face strong international competition in an expanding sector. First, the Spacex company of the billionaire Elon Musk specializes in the use of reusable rockets.
But the Japanese Space Agency Jaxa has also given the mission of becoming an important player in the launch of satellites, especially with its new H3 generation rocket, but not reusable. Finally, the new Japanese companies compete for the sector, especially Space One, which in December knew their second fault to launch their Kairos, not reusable, which carried five satellites.
Source: BFM TV
