Honda made a surprise entry into the private space race with a successful reusable rocket

Space vessel

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Honda announced the surprise of a successful reusable rocket test on June 17, officially entering the commercial space race. It was the first try for its model.

Photo: Honda

A surprise launch

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According to NBC News, the company announced in 2021 that it was entering the space industry but did not clarify its goals or projects. The launch surprised experts.

Photo: Honda

A short flight

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The company said the rocket took a short flight of over 800 feet and landed back successfully, 15 inches away from the targeted point. According to Reuters, the vehicle is 20.6 feet.

Photo: Honda

A meaningful endeavor

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“We believe that rocket research is a meaningful endeavor that leverages Honda’s technological strengths,” Toshihiro Mibe, the CEO, said in a statement collected by NBC.

Suborbital flight

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The Japanese automaker also said it aims for a suborbital space flight by 2029. The recent launch was an important milestone for this goal.

A new space race

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With it, Honda emerges for the first time as a contender in a new space race: the commercial one, which has been dominated by American companies so far.

Photo: SpaceX / Unsplash

America is leading the way

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According to Forbes, American entrepreneurs like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos drive the new race with projects like SpaceX or their personal bids to travel outside the planet.

Dominating

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Elon Musk’s company holds the lead, with a consistent relationship with NASA. SpaceX rockets regularly send resources and people to the ISS.

Boeing

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Other companies, such as Boeing, are starting to withdraw from the competition. Last year, NASA had to return its first capsule without the crew due to a malfunction.

A bad moment for SpaceX

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Still, Honda’s announcement comes at a bad moment for SpaceX, which ran a couple of unsuccessful tests this year. Musk’s public feud with President Trump could also endanger its contracts with NASA.

Uncertain future

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Honda is still unclear on how it will enter the commercial space industry. Its vehicle is a prototype, and the end goal has not been announced. Still, it could represent significant competition for SpaceX.

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