ispace's Upcoming Space Mission to the Moon in December
ispace's Second Moon Landing Attempt
ispace's second Moon landing attempt is on the horizon, as the Japanese lunar firm plans to launch its Hakuto-R lander on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket no earlier than December. This thrilling venture, dubbed Resilience, is backed by private capital and JAXA, Japan's space agency, and is set to be transported to Cape Canaveral in mid-November for preparations.
Lander Mission Objectives
- Deliver six payloads to the lunar surface.
- Conduct the first electrolysis experiment on the Moon.
- Deploy the Tenacity rover to collect regolith samples.
- Drop off an art installation, a little red house.
Reflecting on past experiences, the team at ispace aims for a successful and gentle descent after their previous mission ended in a crash due to software errors. They are confident that the lessons learned will ensure a better outcome this time.
More Private Missions
This mission places ispace among three private companies aiming for Moon landings this winter. Uniquely, it is the only mission not funded by NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, although its third mission, in collaboration with US contractor Draper, does have CLPS support.
Upcoming missions include:
- Blue Ghost: Launching in November, this is Firefly Aerospace's first landing attempt under CLPS.
- IM-2: The second mission from Intuitive Machines, also scheduled for December.
China's Chang'e missions have set a benchmark for lunar robotic exploration, emphasizing the necessity for the US to achieve reliable Moon landings through innovative approaches spearheaded by private companies.
This article was prepared using information from open sources in accordance with the principles of Ethical Policy. The editorial team is not responsible for absolute accuracy, as it relies on data from the sources referenced.