Honda is known for making some of the world’s most recognizable vehicles and, well, motorcycles. Now it’s also trying to put those skills to use in space. The Japanese company said Wednesday that it has successfully launched and landed a rocket developed by its R&D division. It’s the company’s first time successfully launching a rocket and landing it safely back on Earth.

This wasn’t some far-flung international launchpad. The test happened at Honda’s very own facility in Taiki Town, Japan — which is quickly becoming a nascent space hotbed. The rocket reached 890 feet before safely descending and landing 37 centimeters from its target. That’s no coincidence. That’s science.

The rocket used in the test is a 6.4-meter tall vehicle that weighs just over 2,800 pounds at launch. It managed to stay airborne for 56.6 seconds. In that time, the vehicle successfully proved it can vertically take off and, importantly, also stay stable and accurate. Its landing legs, which were extended for liftoff, allowed the rocket to softly touch down exactly where it was supposed to.

You might not expect to see a car company like Honda, which made its name on land-based transportation, actually pulling off a feat like this. But it did, and that alone suggests the company isn’t just playing around. It’s building functional spaceflight hardware that’s already got real potential.

From Cars to Rockets

The company isn’t just throwing things at the wall to see what sticks. It first revealed its intention to look into space technologies in late 2021, but its development has been mostly quiet. After years of work, this test is the first evidence of what’s been brewing.

Rather than building an entirely new industry from scratch, Honda is using its existing knowledge. For example, the company’s automated driving systems are already playing a major role in its rocket program. A system that once handled precise navigation at the wheel can now control how the rocket lifts off, stays stable in the air, and lands on the ground.

The same skillset being applied to driving cars is now being used to make rockets. It’s a cross-discipline approach that makes a lot of sense — and so far, it seems to be working.

The rocket is more than a gimmick, though. Honda is positioning itself for a world where space-based technologies are increasingly part of everyday business. Whether it’s data transmission, navigation, or communication, being able to operate above the upper atmosphere will only become more valuable.

Although the rocket is in the early research phase, this test suggests the company has larger ambitions. It could ultimately build its own small-scale launch systems to meet rising demand for satellite launches — a service that could align with its car, robotics, and communications businesses.

Raising the stakes, the company is aiming to put its rocket into suborbital space by 2029. That means reaching heights beyond 62 miles (or 100 kilometers) above sea level, which is widely considered the start of space. Suborbital flights don’t stay in orbit but do break the barrier of the atmosphere. It’s a significant technical challenge on its own.

A successful suborbital flight would prove that Honda has the engines, guidance, and landing technologies it needs to go farther. It would also need new launch vehicles, guidance systems, and perhaps even a new kind of payload technology to actually place satellites in orbit. The next phase remains unclear. Honda hasn’t committed to turning its rocket business into a commercial service just yet. But this test flight puts it on a trajectory where that decision could happen soon.

It’s not just an arbitrary spot on the map. The launch site, Taiki Town, is in the midst of a push to become a major aerospace center. Located in Hokkaido, it has partnered with multiple private companies and even the national agency JAXA to build testing infrastructure, support facilities, and training programs.

With Honda now joining the list of companies doing real-life experiments there, Taiki Town is quickly becoming one of Japan’s most significant space innovation hubs.

It’s a long way to go. Honda is entering a space that is still largely dominated by companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin, which have more resources and years of experience in orbital flight. What Honda brings is a history of manufacturing, robotics, and mobility technology that could give it an advantage as it moves forward.

This test wasn’t just a one-time demonstration. It’s the first sign that Honda is already building toward a future far beyond the surface of the planet.

And while the rocket didn’t land too far from its target, the company’s space journey has been shooting much higher.