Japanese Lunar Lander Crashes on Moon During Unsuccessful Mission Endeavor
A Japanese private lunar lander experienced a crash during its landing attempt on Friday, marking yet another setback in the commercial pursuit of lunar exploration. The mission, run by the Tokyo-based company ispace, was declared a failure several hours after communications with the lander were lost. Flight controllers eagerly attempted to re-establish contact but were met with silence, prompting an official conclusion to the mission.
Less than two minutes before the planned landing, which included a mini rover, communication ceased. Up until that moment, the descent from lunar orbit appeared to be progressing smoothly. ispace’s CEO, Takeshi Hakamada, expressed his regrets to everyone involved, noting that this incident marked the second unsuccessful lunar mission for the company.
Previously, ispace’s first attempt two years ago ended in a crash landing as well, leading to the naming of its successor lander, “Resilience.” This lander was designed to carry a rover equipped with a shovel for lunar soil collection and a small artistic representation by a Swedish artist. Officials stated it was premature to assume whether the same issue affected both missions.
Hakamada acknowledged the need for serious reflection following this second failure, emphasizing the company’s resolve to continue pursuing lunar missions. Preliminary analysis pointed to a malfunction in the laser system used to measure altitude, resulting in a rapid descent. The company hypothesized that Resilience likely endured a hard landing on the moon’s surface.
As governments historically dominated lunar exploration, the recent push from private companies since 2019 has seen more failures than successes. Ispace’s mission was part of a growing commercial trend, with other companies vying for successful landings, although many have encountered difficulties. Despite these setbacks, Hakamada remains optimistic, viewing this experience as a stepping stone toward future endeavors.