As we watched the latest SpaceX Starship rocket test end in a spectacular explosion, we might have missed the news from Japan of a different rocket passing a successful test. We all know Honda as a car company but it seems they are in the rocket business too, and they successfully tested a reusable rocket. It’s an experimental 900 kg model that flew to a height of 300 m before returning itself to the pad, but it serves as a valuable test platform for Honda’s take on the technology.
It’s a research project as it stands, but it’s being developed with an eye towards future low-cost satellite launches rather than as a crew launch platform.As a news story though it’s of interest beyond its technology, because it’s too easy to miss news from the other side of the world when all eyes are looking at Texas. It’s the latest in a long line of interesting research projects from the company, and we hope that this time they resist the temptation to kill their creation rather than bring it to market.
Cars, motorbikes, robots, rockets, plenty of other stuff too.
While there are newer cheaper versions that have come to market in the last few years, Ive been using a Honda Ultrasonic Cutter for over a decade. Its honestly one of my favorite tools. I rarely go a week without using it for something.
As a kid in the 80s, my parents once brought pineapple cans home from the supermarket, that had the Mitsubishi logo on the back, the same logo that was on our neighbors car. I found that hilarious.
Proud owner of a Honda lawn mowerer here. Just hope it does not spontaneously decide to shoot off into space.
Scratch cars.
Honda haven’t done anything remarkable since the 90’s.
They’ve basically ignored what the after market is doing and the epic success people are having with Hondas in all forms of racing, by completely failing to design that experience into new cars and capitalizing on a market crying out for a decent new sporty Honda.
The new prelude is going to be slow. The CTR isn’t 4 wheel drive unlike it’s rivals.
Lost the plot a long time ago.
They make boring SUV’s and bad EV’s.
In other words, Honda makes fairly utilitarian vehicles for most people’s decidedly prosaic needs.
So what? The slice of the market looking for racing cars isnt the slice they cater to. Honda sells more cars per year than Nissan. BMW, Mercedes, and even Tesla without factoring in the models sold under their Acura brand.
PS Guess why Acura discontinued the NSX….High cost, Low sales. Sporty isnt what the wider market actually demands.
And jets.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_HA-420_HondaJet
Japanese companies are special that way… They rarely specialize in one thing. My sewing machine is a Toyota. It’s fantastic.
I hear Toha Heavy Industries builds a lot of good stuff
No, must resist………
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VTEC kicked in yo’
Glad to see another entry in VTVL. Hopefully Honda’s engineering expertise will be put to good use.
yow! i’m out of date! i was still calling it VTOL
But where’s the H? That’s how you know it’s a Honda! What’s the point of having a Honda if you can’t show it off?
I always wondered why the heck Japan isn’t a space launch powerhouse. They’re very well-placed for it, launching east over the Pacific. They have very good industrial production. I guess the lack of a proper offensive military does slow down technologies related to long-range missiles… That could be a lot of it, but it’s only a delay.
As long as they don’t come with Takata airbags inside…
Forgive me, but now all I can think of are the potential memes. (“You meet the nicest people on a Honda!” As an alien in a saucer waves at the rocket.)
if its the 90’s honda engineers behind this venture itll be superb and work 100% of the time even when abused to within an inch of its life. if its 2020’s honda engineers itll perhaps make it a few trips before some absolutely horrifically and unnecessarily hard to get to part fails for no reason whatsoever. And itll be on indefinite back-order, and cost more than the vehicle its fitted too. . im a mechanic. not bitter about current honda in the slightest.