Honda is best known for its cars and motorcycles. But the Japanese automaker is now making moves to reach the stars. This week, the company revealed that it had successfully tested the launch and landing of a rocket made by its research and development arm. It marks the first time the company successfully sent a rocket into space and brought it back safely.

This wasn’t done on some faraway international spaceport, either. It happened at Honda’s own facility in Taiki Town, Japan, a place that is becoming one of the world’s fastest-growing spaceports. The rocket launched into the air and reached 890 feet before descending and landing within 37 centimeters of the target landing spot.

That’s not by accident. That’s good engineering.

The rocket used in the test is a 20.5-foot-tall vehicle that weighed more than 2,800 pounds when launched. It took to the air for a brief 56.6 seconds. During that brief time, it proved it could take off vertically, land, and stay in place. The landing legs on the rocket helped it touch down gently on the runway and exactly where it was supposed to.

It’s not what you would expect from a company that builds vehicles that travel on Earth’s surface. But the test shows that Honda is not just thinking about the idea — it’s building actual spaceflight hardware that has a chance to succeed.

Honda isn’t launching its space efforts into the unknown. The company announced plans to enter the space business late last year, but it has been relatively quiet about its progress. Now, years later, this week’s test finally shows what has been happening behind the scenes.

Instead of building an entirely new ecosystem, Honda is relying on existing technology built in other areas. The automated driving systems it developed are part of this rocket program. The kind of precise control it needs for autonomous cars can be used for the vertical takeoff, flying, and landing of rockets.

It’s an area where the skills can transfer — and so far, it’s working.

This rocket is not just about showing off technical abilities. Honda is looking to be part of the coming day when satellite and space-based infrastructure will be essential for running business operations. Whether it’s delivering data, navigating, or communicating, there’s value in getting access to the sky.

This rocket is still in the research stage. But the success of this test shows what the company has planned for the future. It is planning to build its own small-scale launch systems to help with the demand for small satellites. That could link to its car business, robotics, and communications businesses.

Honda has set its sights on reaching suborbital space by 2029. That means going beyond 62 miles (or 100 kilometers) above sea level, which is considered the line between Earth and space. These flights aren’t around the Earth, but they do break through the Earth’s atmosphere — which is a challenging problem in itself.

A suborbital flight would show that Honda has mastered the ability to launch, fly, and land rockets with precision. That would still require more work to place satellites in orbit. That would mean building launch vehicles, guidance systems, and maybe even new hardware to deliver payloads.

The next step isn’t clear. Honda has not committed to building a commercial business around its rocket. But this test is a step that takes it down a path where that decision may not be far off.

Taiki Town is more than just a background setting. The area is actively being developed as a center for space development. It is located in Hokkaido, where several private companies and national organizations like JAXA have developed testing facilities, training centers, and support structures.

With Honda joining the list of private companies conducting real-world experiments there, Taiki Town is quickly becoming one of the most important spaces for Japanese innovation.

There’s still a long road ahead. Honda is entering a market dominated by giants like SpaceX and Blue Origin, which have billions of dollars and decades of experience with rockets that fly into orbit. But what Honda brings is something different — a background in building efficiency, robotics, and mobility that could give it an advantage as it looks to the future.

This week’s test wasn’t just an experimental effort. It’s a sign that Honda is getting ready for a future far from Earth’s surface.

And while the rocket landed just a few feet away from its target, the company’s space travel is clearly going much higher.