Tokyo: Japanese private space company ispace has declared the failure of its second lunar landing mission after losing contact with its uncrewed moon lander, Resilience. The announcement was made after hours of silence from the lander, which was attempting to touch down on the Moon’s surface.
The Tokyo-based firm confirmed that communication was lost during the final descent, and preliminary analysis suggests that a faulty laser-based altitude measurement system caused Resilience to descend too rapidly, likely resulting in a ‘hard landing.’
This marks ispace’s second failed landing attempt, following the crash of its first lander in 2023. At a press conference, CEO and founder Takeshi Hakamada expressed his disappointment and stated that, “This is the second time that we were not able to land. So, we really have to take it very seriously,” while also confirming the company’s commitment to continuing lunar missions.
As of 8:00 a.m. on June 6, 2025, mission controllers have determined that it is unlikely that communication with the lander will be restored and therefore completing Success 9 is not achievable. It has been decided to conclude the mission.
“Given that there is currently no… pic.twitter.com/IoRUfggoiQ
— ispace (@ispace_inc) June 6, 2025
Footage released by ispace showed Resilience orbiting the Moon in preparation for the landing attempt. The lander was targeting a flat, narrow region across the Moon’s northern near side, known for its ancient lava flows and craters.
The mission carried the European-built rover ‘Tenacious,’ designed to collect lunar samples with a high-definition camera and shovel for NASA.
It also included a unique cultural element, a tiny red cottage with white trim and a green door known as the ‘Moonhouse,’ created by Swedish artist Mikael Genberg. The miniature structure was meant to be placed symbolically on the Moon’s surface.
Resilience had launched in January 2025 aboard a SpaceX rocket from Florida, sharing the flight with Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lander. Blue Ghost successfully landed on the Moon in March, becoming the first private spacecraft to do so, with Intuitive Machines achieving a partial success shortly afterward.
Though Resilience was late to lunar orbit, it had followed a long, energy-efficient path and entered orbit last month. The recent crash further illustrates the difficulties of private space exploration, even as several companies aim to commercialize lunar access.
The ispace mission was expected to mark a major step in private lunar delivery, and while the lander failed, the company remains committed to future missions, learning from technical challenges and continuing its pursuit of a successful soft landing.
Meanwhile, the Tenacious rover and the Moonhouse remain unplaced on the lunar surface, and the mission’s outcome highlights the risks and ambitions tied to modern space ventures.
Despite the setback, ispace joins a growing field of commercial space companies, including US-based Firefly Aerospace and Intuitive Machines, in pushing the boundaries of what private firms can achieve beyond Earth.
MOST READ | HIV Cure Closer: Researchers reveal hidden virus using mRNA
