3. Taking on challenges in the field of space technologyAccelerating Honda research and development in the field of space technologies while viewing it as a place to take on challenges to realize the "dreams" and "potential" of people worldwide while leveraging its core technologiesBuilding a circulative renewable energy system on the lunar surface by leveraging Honda fuel cell technologies and high differential pressure water electrolysis technologiesApplying Honda's multi-fingered robotic hand, AI-supported remote control function, and highly-responsive torque control technologies to remotely-controlled robots which will perform tasks on the lunar surfaceProposal by young Honda engineers to research and develop a small, reusable rocket by applying Honda's core technologies such as combustion, fluid, control and guidance technologiesHonda views the field of space technologies as a place to take on new challenges to realize the "dreams" and "potential" of people worldwide while leveraging its core technologies.By leveraging core technologies unique to Honda, such as combustion, guidance, fuel cell and robotics technologies, Honda is pursuing technology development with a goal to create new value in the ultimate environment of outer space.3-1. Challenges on the lunar surface:Circulative renewable energy systemApplication of Honda technologies to remote-controlled robotsAs international momentum for expanding the range of human activities outside the Earth continues to grow, Honda began initiatives to strive for the expansion of human activities and development on the lunar surface. It is said that there is water on the Moon, and various possibilities for the use of water may open up are attracting attention. Honda is conducting a joint research with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) with a goal to build the circulative renewable energy system on the lunar surface by leveraging fuel cell technologies and high differential pressure water electrolysis technologies Honda has amassed to date.By combining Honda's fuel cell technologies and high differential pressure water electrolysis technologies, and by using electricity from renewable energy sources, the system electrically decomposes water and stores hydrogen and oxygen. Then, using that hydrogen and oxygen, Honda's fuel cell technologies, can generate and supply electricity. The oxygen also can be used for people staying at living quarters on the lunar surface, and the hydrogen also will be used as fuel for rockets. By building such a circulative renewable energy system, Honda will strive to contribute to a wide range of human activities on the lunar surface.Moreover, for the remotely-controlled robots on the lunar surface, which can minimize the risks astronauts will be exposed to and enable people to virtually enjoy the experience of being on the Moon from Earth, Honda is expecting to apply a number of its core technologies. This includes the multi-fingered robotic hand technology and AI-supported remote control technology being developed for the Honda Avatar Robot and the highly-responsive torque control technology for collision mitigation. These research themes were adopted by the JAXA Space Exploration Innovation Hub and the joint research began in February of this year.3-2. Reusable small rocket which will apply Honda's core technologies Honda also is working on the development of small rockets. This rocket development was initiated by the proposal made by young Honda engineers who wanted to build a small rocket by utilizing core technologies, such as combustion and control technologies, that Honda has amassed through the development of various products.Artificial satellites are indispensable for various purposes including the observation of the global environment, such as global warming and abnormal weather conditions and also to enable wide-area communication, which is an effective means to provide connectivity to mobility products. However, currently, there are not enough rockets available to meet demand for satellite launches. To address this issue, Honda is developing a small rocket with a goal to use it as a launch vehicle for small low-earth orbit satellites. Moreover, Honda is conducting research with an assumption to make its rocket "reusable" by enabling at least some of the rocket components to land back on earth after the launching. For this challenge, Honda will strive to utilize control and guidance technologies Honda has amassed through the development of automated driving technologies.In addition to a complete commitment to its environmental and safety challenges, Honda will continue pursuing outside-the-box research to leverage its core technologies and take on challenges in new areas to bring about new value that overcomes the constraints of time and space of people.
Some more info in this Japanese-language news article, including the attached image (which, being an image, couldn't be machine-translated) and a comment about the vehicle launching a "1000 kg class" payload to low Earth orbit. As for development status, "the actual development started at the end of 2019, and it is said that it has reached the stage where the combustion test of the engine can be done in about one and a half years."
Quote from: trimeta on 09/30/2021 05:35 pmSome more info in this Japanese-language news article, including the attached image (which, being an image, couldn't be machine-translated) and a comment about the vehicle launching a "1000 kg class" payload to low Earth orbit. As for development status, "the actual development started at the end of 2019, and it is said that it has reached the stage where the combustion test of the engine can be done in about one and a half years."Is 1000kg payload still considered small these days?The following Yomiuri article states first launch expected in 2029?https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/economy/20210930-OYT1T50202/If you have the google translate app on your smartphone, the camera live translation mode isn't horrific for providing a machine translated live overlay of english text on a viewed image...The design shown seems to take a lot of cues from New Shepard... which might indicate first stage recoverability if those white parts are legs.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/honda-introduces-initiatives-in-new-areas-taking-on-challenges-in-new-areas-while-leveraging-its-core-technologies-301388448.html
Proposal by young Honda engineers to research and develop a small, reusable rocket by applying Honda's core technologies such as combustion, fluid, control and guidance technologies
Honda also is working on the development of small rockets. This rocket development was initiated by the proposal made by young Honda engineers who wanted to build a small rocket by utilizing core technologies, such as combustion and control technologies, that Honda has amassed through the development of various products.
<snip>Maybe there is something up with the translation from Japanese to English but both of these seem to imply that their engineers wanted to develop a rocket and basically lobbied and cajoled management into agreeing?<snip>
I'm pretty sure this has been mentioned here before.
I'm pretty sure this has been mentioned here before.In Japan and Korea especially, most big companies and industrial conglomerates that do much more than the products you might now at first. H3 is made by Mitsubishi, for instance.Honda in particular also makes aircraft and robots.
So apparently they recently had a combustion test for their engine but no pics...https://www.space.com/honda-test-fires-engine-new-rocket
Any indications that Honda is still developing a launcher?
Quote from: PM3 on 06/16/2024 02:21 pmAny indications that Honda is still developing a launcher?They still have an R&D technology agreement with JAXA nearly identical to Canon and other Japanese companies. They are targeting NLT 2030 ± 2 years minmax. Still mentioned in the quarterly business meetings but remaining quiet publicly in all languages at this stage beyond the initial announcement.
Faint blue-ish engine exhaust. Is this Methalox?
Quote from: PM3 on 06/17/2025 01:52 pmFaint blue-ish engine exhaust. Is this Methalox?Apparently yes (also confirms that multiple engines were used): https://news.yahoo.co.jp/expert/articles/4770428f664b630f46b90894a2b741123f9610ef
A shot with humans for scale from the press release.
This was Honda's first takeoff and landing experiment to verify the elemental technologies necessary for rocket reuse, such as the vehicle's stability during ascent and descent and its landing function. As a result, the vehicle's takeoff and landing behavior was successfully performed as targeted (reached altitude 271.4m, error from target landing position 37cm, flight time 56.6 seconds), and data was acquired during ascent and descent.
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. President and CEO Toshihiro Sanbe commented: "With the success of this takeoff and landing test, I am pleased that we have been able to advance the research phase of reusable rockets one step further. I believe that rocket research is a meaningful endeavor that utilizes Honda's technological capabilities. Honda will continue to take on challenges so that we can continue to provide various services and value to customers through our products, as well as work on the environment and safety, and provide new value to people's time and space."
He did note that Honda planned to continue testing those technologies, such as a flight to 1,000 meters by 2027 and a full suborbital flight by 2029. He did not disclose how much Honda had spent on the vehicle or the budget for those future tests.
Honda 本田技研工業@HondaJPTranslated from JapaneseRocket delivery complete! Be sure to check out the real thing at the venue
C.R.S.@ExploitExpertNew photos of Honda's reusable rocket. The grid fins are indented inside of the booster. It looks like the second stage is reusable as well, as you can see the lines of the landing legs.
QuoteC.R.S.@ExploitExpertNew photos of Honda's reusable rocket. The grid fins are indented inside of the booster. It looks like the second stage is reusable as well, as you can see the lines of the landing legs.https://twitter.com/ExploitExpert/status/1983557229040275602
