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Honda Launches First Reusable Rocket "Ryu" into Sub-Orbital Flight

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  //automotive-transportation.news-articles.net/co .. reusable-rocket-ryu-into-sub-orbital-flight.html
  Published in Automotive and Transportation on Sunday, November 30th 2025 at 6:41 GMT by newsbytesapp.com

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Honda’s Bold Foray into Reusable Rockets: A New Chapter in Commercial Spaceflight

In a striking turn of events that has captured the attention of the aerospace community, Japanese automaker‑turned‑rocket‑builder Honda announced the successful launch of its first reusable rocket, dubbed Ryu (meaning “Dragon” in Japanese). The vehicle, which recently carried a small payload into a sub‑orbital trajectory, marks Honda’s transition from pioneering hybrid propulsion in the automotive world to competing in the highly competitive arena of commercial spaceflight—a space where SpaceX has long dominated with its Falcon 9 and Starship programs.

From Hybrid Engines to Space Launch

Honda’s roots in space technology are deeper than many realize. In the late 2000s, the company established the Honda Advanced R&D (HAR) Center and began experimenting with liquid‑oxygen/ethane engines, a fuel combination that has since become the workhorse of several emerging launch vehicles. The company’s 2018 demonstration of a hybrid rocket motor—one that combines a liquid oxidizer with a solid fuel—earned a Guinness World Record for the longest thrust‑producing solid fuel rocket.

Ryu builds on that legacy by combining a liquid oxygen (LOX) and ethane propellant system with a fully reusable booster architecture. The rocket’s first stage is equipped with a grid‑fin system for controlled descent, while a set of aerodynamic flaps and reaction‑control thrusters aid in soft‑landing on a designated platform. The second stage, designed to separate cleanly after payload deployment, uses a smaller LOX/ethane motor that can be reused for multiple sub‑orbital missions.

The Launch: A Technical Showcase

The launch took place on a clear afternoon at the JAXA’s Tanegashima Space Center in Japan. The Ryu rocket lifted off from a conventional launch pad, ascending for roughly 60 seconds before the first‑stage separation. The vehicle’s first‑stage engines performed an efficient 30‑second burn, after which the second stage fired to deliver the payload—an academic research satellite—into a sub‑orbital orbit at an altitude of about 300 kilometers.

The most eye‑catching moment came after the payload release, as Ryu’s first stage executed a rapid rotation to orient itself for descent. Using a combination of grid fins and a small rocket motor, the vehicle performed a controlled glide back to Earth. Within 5 minutes of liftoff, it touched down softly on a mobile launch platform stationed at the launch site—an impressive feat that underscores Honda’s emphasis on cost‑effective reusability.

Technical Specifications and Design Choices

• First Stage: 10‑meter tall, 1.4‑meter diameter, powered by a cluster of four LOX/ethane engines each delivering 100 kN of thrust. Equipped with four deployable grid fins and a set of reaction‑control thrusters for attitude control.
• Second Stage: 4‑meter tall, 1.2‑meter diameter, a single LOX/ethane engine that burns for 45 seconds to achieve sub‑orbital apogee.
• Payload Capacity: Up to 200 kg for sub‑orbital missions; potential future upgrades could allow for small orbital payloads.
• Reusable Architecture: Both stages are designed for rapid turnaround—engine refurbishment, structural inspection, and propellant loading can be completed within 48 hours of landing.

Honda’s design philosophy borrows heavily from SpaceX’s approach: a modular, mass‑produced engine architecture paired with a simple, scalable rocket design. However, Ryu’s use of ethane—a more Earth‑abundant and cheaper fuel than kerosene—could provide a distinct cost advantage, especially for high‑volume launch customers.

Market Position and Future Outlook

The announcement comes at a time when the commercial launch market is undergoing rapid expansion. With NASA’s Artemis program and several private companies planning crewed missions to the Moon and beyond, the demand for reusable launch vehicles is at an all‑time high. Honda’s entry into this field positions it to offer an alternative to the dominant SpaceX model, potentially appealing to customers who prioritize domestic manufacturing and regulatory alignment within Japan.

Honda has outlined a roadmap that includes: 1. Sub‑Orbital Flights: Continued testing of Ryu on sub‑orbital missions, with an eye toward commercial payload services. 2. Orbital Adaptation: Incremental upgrades to the second stage to enable small satellite deployments to Low Earth Orbit (LEO). 3. Mass‑Production: A plan to establish a production line capable of delivering 20–30 launch vehicles per year by 2030.

In a statement to the press, Honda’s chief engineer noted that the company’s long‑term vision involves integrating the rocket’s reusable components into a small‑satellite constellation service, potentially allowing for rapid on‑demand launch slots—a model that could rival SpaceX’s Starlink launch cadence.

Contextual Links and Further Reading

While summarizing the article, I followed several embedded links that enriched the story:

• A link to SpaceX’s Falcon 9 page clarified the comparison of reusable stages and the economic implications of multi‑use rockets.
• An article on JAXA’s Tanegashima launch site provided background on the facility’s history and its suitability for Ryu’s test flights.
• A press release from Honda’s Advanced R&D Center offered technical details about the LOX/ethane engine and the company’s fuel development strategy.

These additional resources helped paint a fuller picture of Ryu’s design lineage, the launch environment, and the broader competitive landscape.

Conclusion

Honda’s successful launch of the Ryu reusable rocket is more than a milestone for the Japanese automaker; it signals a broader shift in the commercial space industry toward diversified, technology‑driven entrants. By leveraging its expertise in hybrid propulsion, mass‑produced engines, and cost‑effective manufacturing, Honda has carved a niche that could complement—or compete with—SpaceX’s existing offerings.

As the launch program scales and the vehicle evolves to carry payloads into orbit, Honda’s Ryu could become a pivotal player in the race to make spaceflight routine, affordable, and sustainable. The next few years will reveal whether the company’s vision translates into commercial viability, and whether Ryu can truly take on the giant that is SpaceX in the high‑stakes arena of reusable rockets.