Japan’s private space firm ispace encountered a major setback on June 6, 2025, after losing contact with its lunar lander during its final descent to the Moon’s surface—casting uncertainty over what would have been a historic commercial space achievement.
The Tokyo-based company, known for its ambitious plans to spearhead commercial lunar exploration, had launched the mission earlier this year under its HAKUTO-R program. The mission aimed to softly land the “Resilience” lander on the Moon and deploy the Tenacious rover for surface operations. The loss of signal in the mission’s critical final moments dashed hopes of completing the first successful Moon landing by a private company outside the United States.
Final Descent Ends in Mystery
The lander had been expected to touch down in the Mare Frigoris, or Sea of Cold, a relatively flat region of the Moon that scientists and engineers selected for its favorable conditions. According to updates from ispace, all systems had been functioning nominally as Resilience began its descent. But just under two minutes before its scheduled landing, communication with the lander ceased.
While the exact cause of the failure remains under investigation, early assessments suggest a likely issue with the craft’s navigation or distance-sensing systems. Such problems may have prevented the lander from executing a controlled touchdown, leading instead to a hard impact on the lunar surface.
The incident mirrors a similar scenario from 2023 when ispace lost contact with its first lunar lander, Hakuto-R Mission 1, during descent. That mission also ended in a suspected crash, prompting the company to enhance its systems and protocols for future flights.
Mission Goals and Scientific Payload
This latest mission held particular promise. It carried multiple instruments and payloads, including the Tenacious micro-rover developed by ispace’s European subsidiary. The rover was designed to study lunar soil composition, map the terrain, and test hardware endurance in the Moon’s harsh conditions. Also on board were international science payloads, part of ispace’s broader strategy to position itself as a key service provider in lunar logistics.
The mission was launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on January 15, 2025, and had spent several months maneuvering into lunar orbit and preparing for the descent. All signs indicated success was within reach—until the abrupt silence from the spacecraft left mission control and observers worldwide anxiously awaiting further updates.
Hope Amid Setbacks
Despite the disappointment, ispace remains resolute in its commitment to commercial lunar exploration. Company leadership expressed their intent to investigate the incident thoroughly, learn from the setback, and continue with their future mission roadmap. Six additional missions are planned through 2029, with enhancements drawn from past experiences.
Among these is the development of a larger, more advanced lunar lander platform designed to support NASA’s Artemis missions and deliver heavier payloads to the Moon. The company also aims to play a role in establishing lunar infrastructure, such as cargo transport and data relay networks.
ispace is not alone in facing the challenges of lunar landings. Numerous attempts by both governmental and commercial entities have ended unsuccessfully due to the complex nature of soft-landing a spacecraft on the Moon—where even small miscalculations can result in mission failure.
Japan’s Growing Space Ambitions
This mission highlights Japan’s expanding footprint in space. While the country’s space agency, JAXA, has previously achieved notable successes—including a soft lunar landing earlier this year—private firms like ispace are now pushing the boundaries of commercial involvement in deep space missions.
Japan has also deepened its collaboration with NASA and the international community, including participation in the Artemis Accords and plans to send Japanese astronauts to the Moon in future missions. These efforts align with a global resurgence in lunar interest, spurred by the pursuit of scientific knowledge, technological innovation, and potential resource utilization.
Looking Forward
As the dust settles from the failed landing, the global space community watches with interest to see how ispace will rebound. The company’s willingness to tackle complex lunar challenges, despite setbacks, reflects the resilience and ambition driving the new era of space exploration.
Failures, while disappointing, are not unusual in the early stages of pioneering missions. Each attempt brings valuable data, insights, and engineering refinements that edge humanity closer to mastering lunar travel. For ispace, this mission may be a hard landing in more ways than one—but it is not the end of their journey.