Honda has successfully launched and landed its first experimental rocket, the company announced earlier this week. The rocket launch and landing took place in Taiki Town, Japan. While the automaker had previously tested rockets, this was its first successful landing.

“The purpose of the experimental rocket is to lay the foundation for the establishment of launch and landing technologies, taking a step towards the realization of a low cost and sustainable rocket launch service,” Honda said in a press release.

The rocket was launched from Taiki Town, Japan. The team says it reached an altitude of 890 feet and then safely landed. The rocket was four legs and stood 20.5 feet tall and weighed over 2,800 pounds when launched. It was up in the air for 56.6 seconds and Honda says it had stable vertical lift, flight control, and landing capabilities.

The company notes that those three characteristics are crucial for a reusable launch system.

While the Japanese automaker had previously conducted various rocket launches, it’s first-ever landing is a huge step for the company. Until now, Honda has largely stayed away from the space industry.

A Quiet Entree Into Space

While the company announcement of its space program may have come as a surprise to some, Honda isn’t a newcomer to the space industry. It announced its entry in 2021, but since then, has kept much of its rocket development out of the public eye.

The difference in this experiment is Honda’s use of technology developed elsewhere. Honda specifically noted that it uses technology from its automated driving and navigation technology to assist with rocket navigation and control.

The announcement may seem surprising, but the company has some serious reasons to launch rockets.

The company points to the need for satellite infrastructure, which can benefit several of its businesses, including connectivity, logistics, and autonomous driving. As satellite technologies become crucial for data transmission, vehicle navigation, and communication, having its own rocket launch could give it a competitive edge.

Still, the company has tempered its ambitions. The company has made it clear that the project is still in the “fundamental research” stage and that it hasn’t decided whether it will commercialize its rockets.

“Although Honda rocket research is still in the fundamental research phase, and 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,” the company said in a statement.

Setting the Goal for 2029

Honda has a much longer-term goal in mind. The company hopes to launch a suborbital flight by 2029. For the uninitiated, a suborbital flight can cross the Kármán line (which is about 62 miles above sea level) but doesn’t actually enter orbit. A suborbital flight would mark a big milestone for the company, which could allow it to test satellites, test payloads, and even potentially fly people.

A suborbital flight doesn’t get satellites into orbit, though. For that, the company would need a much larger, more complicated system. Whether the company will actually make the investment to enter the competitive, but lucrative, orbital launch market isn’t clear. So far, the company hasn’t announced its intentions.

The announcement this week shows that the company has the capability. The automaker has the technology and experience. And now, it has the data to prove it.

The launch took place in Taiki Town, which is beginning to become known as a “space town.” The city has both public and private entities, including the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), working together to push the region forward.

Honda’s partnership with Taiki Town shows how corporate development can meet regional ambitions to further the space industry in Japan.

Whether the company moves into commercial launches or not, this rocket landing puts it into a new class of private space players. While its future is still uncertain, the company has a long-term goal for 2029. The next few years will show not only whether it can innovate its rocket, but where it will place itself in the space race.

One thing is for certain, though. Honda isn’t just sticking to the roads anymore. It’s looking to the sky.