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Title: Honda Successfully Launches and Lands Reusable Rocket

Link: https://science.slashdot.org/story/25/06/17/2...

Honda has successfully conducted a surprise launch and landing test of its
prototype reusable rocket as part of its plan to achieve suborbital
spaceflight by 2029. Reuters reports: Honda R&D, the research arm of
Japan's second-biggest carmaker, successfully landed its 6.3-meter (20.6-
foot) experimental reusable launch vehicle after reaching an altitude of 271
meters (889 feet) at its test facility in northern Japan's space town Taiki,
according to the company. While "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," it
said in a statement. Honda in 2021 said it was studying space technologies
such as reusable rockets, but it has not previously announced the details of
the launch test. A suborbital launch may touch the verge of outer space but
does not enter orbit. Studying launch vehicles "has the potential to
contribute more to people's daily lives by launching satellites with its own
rockets, that could lead to various services that are also compatible with
other Honda business," the company added.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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