Honda Reusable Rocket First Launch

[quintessentone]

The new kid on the block...the competition grows.

"The carmaker wants to launch a suborbital test flight by 2029."




Watch Honda launch (and land) its 1st reusable rocket in this wild video | Space

"As announced in 2021, Honda has been pursuing 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 technologies. Honda has the aim to enable people to transcend the constraints of time, place or ability and make people’s daily lives more enjoyable. Examples of Honda initiatives toward creating new value in the ultimate environment of outer space include research into a circulative renewable energy system, key robotic technologies for use in outer space and reusable rockets. Inspired by the dream of young Honda engineers who wanted to build rockets by utilizing core technologies amassed by Honda through the development of various products, such as combustion and control technologies, Honda started rocket research based on the belief that it has the potential to contribute more to people’s daily lives by launching satellites with its own rockets, that could lead to various services[sup]*3[/sup] that are also compatible with other Honda business.
 
In today’s world, vast amounts of data are consumed, with the growing expectation for greater utilization of a data system in outer space through expanded use of satellites. In light of this trend, the need for satellite launch rockets is also expected to increase in the coming years.
 
In this market environment, Honda has chosen to take on the technological challenge of developing reusable rockets by utilizing Honda technologies amassed in the development of various products and automated driving systems, based on a belief that reusable rockets will contribute to achieving sustainable transportation."

Honda Conducts Successful Launch and Landing Test of Experimental Reusable Rocket | Honda Global Corporate Website

[Nerb]

If it's anything like some of their cars or bikes, it will still be racking up the miles in many years to come.

Inscrutible!

Thanks for sharing.

[quintessentone]

If it's anything like some of their cars or bikes, it will still be racking up the miles in many years to come.

Inscrutible!

Thanks for sharing.

You are welcome and it's all those young rocket scientists being given a free reign too, imagine what they will come up with for this company.

[BeyondKnowledge]

Another fledgeling reusable rocket on the block. Very good. Closer to a space civilization by baby steps every day.

Now we need a long life, completly safe power source. A faster than light or jump drive. Artificial gravity without spinning the whole habitat. Totally effective radiation shielding. Excetra and so forth...

[quintessentone]

Another fledgeling reusable rocket on the block. Very good. Closer to a space civilization by baby steps every day.

Now we need a long life, completly safe power source. A faster than light or jump drive. Artificial gravity without spinning the whole habitat. Totally effective radiation shielding. Excetra and so forth...

It's impossible, until it's not.

I am hoping those fresh, young rocket scientists at Honda don't follow the constrained physics they were taught to stay within the lines.




- and -

"Mexican theoretical physicist Miguel Alcubierre proposed a version of the warp drive in 1994 that involved creating a “bubble” of warped space-time around a vessel. However, the Alcubierre drive required “negative energy” to create this bubble, relying on either undiscovered exotic particles or dark energy—both of which remain hypothetical. This requirement has kept Alcubierre’s concept in the realm of science fiction, as the necessary energy forms are beyond current scientific reach."

"Recently, scientists at the think tank Applied Physics have proposed an alternative: a “constant velocity warp drive” that operates within the bounds of conventional physics. This new concept, led by physicist Jared Fuchs, circumvents the need for exotic energy by using a stable shell of matter to manipulate space-time similarly to a gravitational effect. Rather than faster-than-light travel, the drive would achieve sub-light speeds, but its method of warping space-time presents a significant breakthrough. According to Fuchs, this model “offers a first-of-its-kind solution” that could allow warp drives to transition from theory to reality."

A warp drive may be feasible within the framework of known physics, wild discovery suggests

- and - 

"Ogawa declined to provide specific information about the engine, such as its propellant mix or anticipated thrust. The engine's supersonic exhaust plume, however, produced Mach diamonds in the video. "We believe that we have made huge progress in this development after only two years," Ogawa said."

"The goal for this initiative is not to become the next SpaceX, but to give Honda engineers some freedom to innovate. The company believes it has some of the smartest engineers in the world and wants to turn them loose on a challenging problem. Building an orbital rocket is certainly that."

Honda has already developed a prototype engine for a rocket - Ars Technica

Mach diamonds, or shock diamonds...

Shock diamond - Wikipedia

[sahgwa]

The new kid on the block...the competition grows.

"The carmaker wants to launch a suborbital test flight by 2029."

[Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPiLE9ALTDE]

Watch Honda launch (and land) its 1st reusable rocket in this wild video | Space

"As announced in 2021, Honda has been pursuing 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 technologies. Honda has the aim to enable people to transcend the constraints of time, place or ability and make people’s daily lives more enjoyable. Examples of Honda initiatives toward creating new value in the ultimate environment of outer space include research into a circulative renewable energy system, key robotic technologies for use in outer space and reusable rockets. Inspired by the dream of young Honda engineers who wanted to build rockets by utilizing core technologies amassed by Honda through the development of various products, such as combustion and control technologies, Honda started rocket research based on the belief that it has the potential to contribute more to people’s daily lives by launching satellites with its own rockets, that could lead to various services[sup]*3[/sup] that are also compatible with other Honda business.
 
In today’s world, vast amounts of data are consumed, with the growing expectation for greater utilization of a data system in outer space through expanded use of satellites. In light of this trend, the need for satellite launch rockets is also expected to increase in the coming years.
 
In this market environment, Honda has chosen to take on the technological challenge of developing reusable rockets by utilizing Honda technologies amassed in the development of various products and automated driving systems, based on a belief that reusable rockets will contribute to achieving sustainable transportation."

Honda Conducts Successful Launch and Landing Test of Experimental Reusable Rocket | Honda Global Corporate Website

That's cool! Thanks for sharing. Honda is quality engineering.
Let's see Toyota next. 

Then we will be in a William Gibson novel, with Hyundae Corporation colony on Phobos using Amazon space delivery for their food rations.

[BeyondKnowledge]

It's impossible, until it's not.

I am hoping those fresh, young rocket scientists at Honda don't follow the constrained physics they were taught to stay within the lines.

[Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7rSkbRzizg&t=415s]

- and -

"Mexican theoretical physicist Miguel Alcubierre proposed a version of the warp drive in 1994 that involved creating a “bubble” of warped space-time around a vessel. However, the Alcubierre drive required “negative energy” to create this bubble, relying on either undiscovered exotic particles or dark energy—both of which remain hypothetical. This requirement has kept Alcubierre’s concept in the realm of science fiction, as the necessary energy forms are beyond current scientific reach."

"Recently, scientists at the think tank Applied Physics have proposed an alternative: a “constant velocity warp drive” that operates within the bounds of conventional physics. This new concept, led by physicist Jared Fuchs, circumvents the need for exotic energy by using a stable shell of matter to manipulate space-time similarly to a gravitational effect. Rather than faster-than-light travel, the drive would achieve sub-light speeds, but its method of warping space-time presents a significant breakthrough. According to Fuchs, this model “offers a first-of-its-kind solution” that could allow warp drives to transition from theory to reality."

A warp drive may be feasible within the framework of known physics, wild discovery suggests

- and - 

"Ogawa declined to provide specific information about the engine, such as its propellant mix or anticipated thrust. The engine's supersonic exhaust plume, however, produced Mach diamonds in the video. "We believe that we have made huge progress in this development after only two years," Ogawa said."

"The goal for this initiative is not to become the next SpaceX, but to give Honda engineers some freedom to innovate. The company believes it has some of the smartest engineers in the world and wants to turn them loose on a challenging problem. Building an orbital rocket is certainly that."

Honda has already developed a prototype engine for a rocket - Ars Technica

Mach diamonds, or shock diamonds...

Shock diamond - Wikipedia

That basically describes impulse power form Star Trek. Rocket engines with the exhaust accelerated to almost the speed of light using worp coils around the exhaust. 

And yes, most breakthroughs will be from new understandings of how things we thought were impossible actually work.

[Nerb]

I hope they carry on the tradition of using wicked names for these machines like "Ninja", "Fireblade", "Blackhawk" or "Hayabusa". That should be a creative thing to look out for.

The other thing to consider is how much fuel they can save on getting astronauts up there with some of the naturally compact little people they have at their disposal.

[quintessentone]

That basically describes impulse power form Star Trek. Rocket engines with the exhaust accelerated to almost the speed of light using worp coils around the exhaust. 

And yes, most breakthroughs will be from new understandings of how things we thought were impossible actually work.

It makes we wonder just how big a role science fiction has played in shaping young engineering minds. Interesting times we live in, indeed.

[quintessentone]

I hope they carry on the tradition of using wicked names for these machines like "Ninja", "Fireblade", "Blackhawk" or "Hayabusa". That should be a creative thing to look out for.

The other thing to consider is how much fuel they can save on getting astronauts up there with some of the naturally compact little people they have at their disposal.

Naturally compact little people they have at their disposal? What do you mean?

I was hoping they would invent new forms of propulsion which would end the use of conventional fuel. Then regular sized people could go.