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Date: 06-jun-2025 | By: Nuztrend Team
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In another blow to commercial space exploration, Japanese startup ispace has confirmed the failure of its second lunar landing mission. The company’s 'Resilience' lander, part of Mission 2, lost communication just before its planned touchdown on the Moon’s surface late Thursday.
'Resilience' was carrying a small lunar rover named 'Tenacious', developed in partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA) and Airbus. The rover was meant to explore the lunar surface, gather environmental data, and demonstrate new robotic technology for future missions. The spacecraft launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral in May.
ispace’s ambitions are nothing short of historic. The Tokyo-based company aims to become a central player in building lunar infrastructure and supporting NASA’s Artemis missions. However, back-to-back failures have raised concerns about whether its rapid development cycle is sustainable.
Mission 2 was part of ispace’s long-term “Moon Valley” initiative, which aims to establish a cargo delivery and data service for the Moon by the 2030s.
Despite the failure, industry analysts remain cautiously optimistic. “Failures are part of space exploration, especially for private firms pushing the frontier,” said Prof. Laura Yamaguchi, a space analyst at the University of Tokyo. ispace has already announced Mission 3, which will include another lander with improved design and backup telemetry systems.
According to Space.com, ispace continues to hold contracts with JAXA and ESA for payload services despite the outcome.
The failed attempt comes at a time of increased global interest in lunar exploration. China, India, and the U.S. are all pushing for expanded Moon programs, both for science and future colonization plans. ispace’s attempt, while unsuccessful, remains part of a broader trend of private-sector space development that will likely play a key role in the next phase of lunar missions.
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