Honda built a rocket
Me: of course they did.
They launched the rocket
Me: naturally.
They landed the rocket.
Me: on the first try?
My buddy’s 2 million mile ‘95 civic says this is a sure bet
This wasn’t much more than a toy rocket:
6.3 m in length, 85 cm in diameter,
The test was completed successfully, the first time Honda landed a rocket after reaching an altitude of nearly 300 meters.But still they were successful on their first try, so we will have to see where they take it from here. 🚀
It’s proof of tech. It’d be stupid and wasteful to do all the tests on a full size rocket.
There’s a YouTube channel called BPS Space where this guy spent 7 years learning how to land a model rocket space x style. He talked about how much you can learn about real rocket science even from a small model.
This is the same guy.
Whatever they tested it’s probably proof of that, but such a small rocket and only 300 meters means that a lot of things were not really proven, because scale is a HUGE issue.
Just ask Elon Musk / SpaceX, the Falcon rocket is fine, but Starship is horrible. And the difference is scale.That is not why starship fails. Starship fails because like everything that Elon does lately it emphasizes style over practicality. Starship is a very badly designed rocket that looks cool to Elon. Not unlike the Cyber truck which has been an abject failure in every way possible.
You are missing the point that size makes a difference. Obviously SpaceX has the technology to do what Honda did, but SpaceX can do ti with a real rocket.
But they can’t do it with the bigger Starship rocket. Scale matters.And when SpaceX does it with real full size rockets and they explode scattering debris and chemicals everywhere, the nearby towns pay the price.
I don’t see any towns being decimated by Honda’s approach.
I am ABSOLUTELY not praising SpaceX, I’m just using them as an example of how scale makes all the difference at least for some of the components. And being able to launch a small rocket is evidence they can launch a big one too.
Size is only a proof of logistics. Not tech. Physics don’t change fundamentally between 6 meters and 120 meters. You learn a lot from scale modeling without the added costs. Starship’s real challenge is actually the logistics necessary to fulfill the desired specifications and experimenting with engineering to reach the scale. The most innovative aspect of Starship would be orbital refueling, and they aren’t there since the thing hasn’t reached orbit yet. SpaceX problem right now is insisting on high turnover engineering, which doesn’t work at scale without heavy costs, because it is a logistic problem, not a engineering problem.
Physics don’t change fundamentally between 6 meters and 120 meters
Yes it does. Mass to strength ratio of structural components changes with scale. So does the thrust to mass ratio of a rocket and its fuel. So does heat dissipation (affected by ratio of surface area to mass).
And I don’t know shit about fluid dynamics, but I’m skeptical that things scale cleanly, either.
Scaling upward will encounter challenges not apparent at small sizes. That goes for everything from engineering bridges to buildings to cars to boats to aircraft to spacecraft.
Guess we doin rockets now
Since when is Honda a rocket company? This is literally the first im hearing about this. They kept this quiet for a while, and im not sure why.
It’s new. Honda Space Development Division.
Honda R&D to Conduct Testing with Sierra Space and Tec-Masters on the International Space Station | Honda Global Corporate Website https://share.google/3CwIsYUh8eWsohht4
A lot of the global conglomerate Asian based companies do R&D across many fields, rather than just the product they’re most know for. Toshiba makes nuclear reactors! Samsung has phones and sewing machines and microchips… and nuclear reactors research.
Good for them, Asia is getting their rocket programs in order while the U.S. tries their best to destroy ours. Man i wish I could move.
Honda is cool they build robotics and the best motorbikes in the world per cost
And Hyundai is making hydrogen powered tanks, what a world. I wonder if hydrogen fuels poses any unique risks as compared to petrol.
I wonder if hydrogen fuels poses any unique risks as compared to petrol.
It’s highly explosive.
Explosion wise or climate wise?
I guess both? I know climate wise the manufacture of those things cannot be climate friendly.
At the end of the day, making EV cars isn’t either unfortunately…but in the grand scheme of things. Both hydrogen and EV cars are more environmentally friendly than gas powered cars.
Manufacturing of any kind always causes an environmental impact. This is the way of things.
The one thing we can’t get that would mitigate the environmental costs of making stuff, is if stuff was built to last…
Genuinely curious: how many explosions before the successful test?
What the F is every corporation’s boner with rockets? 🚀
Because the last stage of existence on this planet. Will be febel plans to try and colonize other planets. Because our planet will start to poison us as a defensive mechanism. All of these Corporations need a plan to get off planet.
Feeble? But I think you meant futile? Idk.
The planet isn’t doing anything, we are poisoning ourselves. Or as lemmy puts it “big evil corporations (which we support everyday because it’s cheaper than buying local/sustainable) are poisoning us”.
Yes, let spend money to fuck up other planets as well instead of saving this one. /s
That’s exactly what they will say.
Reusable rockets, in particular.
Imagine having a reusable car in a world where they were all disposable.
Flying Honda Accord confirmed.
“But look what I can do, I’m Elon musk” …. Throws out a nazi salute.
The Top Gear Reliant Robin launch reached 3000ft / 900m, although they were unable to stick the landing.
Idk, looks more like Hitachi
How many went kaboom before this?
