Lunar Collision: Japanese Lander Impacts Moon's Surface.
Unified in Failure: Hakuto-R's Second Lunar Landing Miss
The Japanese space module, Hakuto-R, met an unexpected fate on June 5, 2025, during its lunar landing mission christened "Resilience." The mission, led by Ispace, ended in a crushing blow when contact with the device was lost just 10 meters above the lunar surface.
Upon analyzing the event, the mission was categorized as a failure. According to data, during the planned landing, the flight height of Hakuto-R plummeted to zero, suggesting a possible crash[1][3][5]. Engineers are currently working tirelessly to re-establish contact with the recalcitrant device.
"We've come to the conclusion that re-establishing contact with the module is a tall order and completing the mission is impossible. So, we must accept that the landing has been unsuccessful," asserted Ispace CEO, Takashi Hhakamada[2].
Tokyo, Zoya Oskolkova
© 2025, RIA "Novyi Den"
A Rough Ride Through Space
Mission Highlights
- SpaceX Ride: Launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Resilience joined a spacecraft caravan, including Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lander[3].
- Lunar Residence: After entering lunar orbit on May 6, 2025, the lander orbited around the moon for over a month before its landing attempt[1][3].
- The End of the Line: During the final descent, communication with the lander was lost at approximately 3:17 p.m. ET as it came close to the lunar surface[1][5].
- Closing Chapter: The probable cause was that the laser rangefinder, which measures the distance to the lunar surface, experienced delays or malfunctions, halting the lander's descent[5]. As a result, the module was unable to slow down, leading to a "hard landing" and likely destruction of the spacecraft and its payloads[1][3][5].
Prelude and Prior Disasters
- Precious Predecessor: this was Ispace's second attempt at landing a Hakuto-R lander on the moon. The first Hakuto-R crashed into the Atlas Crater due to a computer malfunction, around 10 meters (33 feet) above the surface, in April 2023[1][4][5].
- Japanese Lunar Chronicles: Another Japanese lunar mission, SLIM (by JAXA), managed to endure two lunar nights after an upside-down landing in January 2024[1].
Two Down, But Not Out
In the face of failure, Ispace vows to scrutinize telemetry data and restore trust among stakeholders, with plans to continue its lunar ambitions, aiming for a comeback in 2027[3][4].
| Mission Name | Launch Date | Landing Attempt Date | Location | Outcome | Cause of Failure ||----------------|------------------|---------------------|-----------------------|-------------------|---------------------------------|| Hakuto-R M1 | Dec 2022 | Apr 2023 | Atlas Crater | Crash (10m above) | Computer malfunction[1][4][5] || Hakuto-R M2 | ~Jan 2025 | Jun 5, 2025 | Mare Frigoris (Sea of Cold) | Hard landing, lost comms | Rangefinder malfunction[5] |
This double whammy of failed landings poses hurdles for Ispace's visionary pursuits in lunar exploration and development[1][3][5].
The failure of Hakuto-R M2 raises questions about the reliability of Japan's space exploration technology in space-and-astronomy, particularly in the field of science.
In response, Ispace has vowed to delve into the telemetry data from both Hakuto-R missions, aiming to revolutionize the technology and re-establish itself as a leader in space-and-astronomy and science.
