A private Japanese spacecraft, Resilience, crashed into the moon’s surface. This failure marks the second time the company, ispace, has experienced a setback in its mission to explore the lunar surface.
The Resilience lander was part of the Hakuto-R Mission 2, and it was launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on January 15. The spacecraft was supposed to soft-land on the moon’s surface in the Mare Frigoris region. However, about 1 minute and 45 seconds before touchdown, the spacecraft lost contact with the control center.
Initial data suggests that the laser altitude measurement system failed to accurately assess the spacecraft’s height, causing it to crash into the moon’s surface. Despite this second consecutive failure, ispace is moving forward with its plans. The company has allocated a budget for its next mission, which involves developing a new spacecraft, Apex 1.0, to explore the far side of the moon in 2027.
The failure of the Resilience lander is a significant setback for ispace, but the company remains committed to its goal of establishing a commercial lunar exploration program. With its next mission scheduled for 2027, ispace is determined to overcome the challenges it has faced and achieve success in the lunar exploration industry.
The crash of the Resilience lander serves as a reminder of the difficulties and risks involved in space exploration. However, it also highlights the importance of perseverance and innovation in the pursuit of advancing our understanding of the universe. As ispace moves forward with its next mission, the company will undoubtedly apply the lessons learned from its previous failures to improve its chances of success.
In the coming years, ispace plans to continue developing its technology and advancing its lunar exploration program. With the support of investors and partners, the company aims to establish itself as a leading player in the commercial lunar exploration industry. Despite the setbacks, ispace remains committed to its vision of creating a sustainable and commercial lunar exploration program that will benefit humanity as a whole.
Key Points:
- The Resilience lander, part of the Hakuto-R Mission 2, crashed into the moon’s surface on June 6, 2023.
- The spacecraft lost contact with the control center about 1 minute and 45 seconds before touchdown.
- The failure is attributed to the laser altitude measurement system’s inability to accurately assess the spacecraft’s height.
- Despite this second consecutive failure, ispace is moving forward with its plans to develop a new spacecraft, Apex 1.0, to explore the far side of the moon in 2027.
- The company remains committed to its goal of establishing a commercial lunar exploration program and applying the lessons learned from its previous failures to improve its chances of success.