Japan's ispace to Launch Second Moon Landing Mission in December
Japanese space exploration company ispace is gearing up for its second attempt at landing a spacecraft on the Moon. The mission, dubbed "Hakuto-R Mission 2," is scheduled for launch as early as December 2023.
The spacecraft will be delivered to the Moon aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Florida. After a four to five-month journey, it will attempt a lunar touchdown.
"I'm excited that our re-attempt to the moon is approaching," said ispace CEO Takeshi Hakamada at a press conference.
This mission follows ispace's first attempt in April 2023, which unfortunately failed due to an altitude miscalculation in the final moments. The company is determined to succeed this time around.
ispace, founded in 2010, is a Tokyo-based startup with approximately 300 employees across Japan, the United States, and Luxembourg.
The Moon is becoming an increasingly important target in the global race for resources such as water and fuel. Several countries, including India, Japan, and China, have successfully landed missions on the lunar surface in recent years.
The United States, through its Artemis program, plans to send astronauts back to the Moon in 2026, marking the first crewed lunar landing in over 50 years.