In another setback for Japan’s lunar ambitions, ispace Inc.’s second attempt at achieving a soft landing on the moon ended in failure early Friday morning when its Resilience spacecraft crashed during the final descent phase. The Tokyo-based company confirmed the mission’s conclusion at 8:00 a.m. on June 6, 2025, after determining that communications with the lander could not be restored.
The incident began at 3:13 a.m. when mission controllers in Tokyo’s Nihonbashi district initiated the landing sequence. While the initial phases proceeded according to plan, with the spacecraft successfully descending from 100 kilometers to approximately 20 kilometers above the lunar surface and firing its main engine for deceleration, problems emerged during the final approach. Despite achieving a near-vertical orientation, the spacecraft’s telemetry signal was lost, and no confirmation of a successful landing was received.
Technical analysis revealed that the lander’s laser rangefinder, crucial for measuring distance to the moon’s surface, experienced delays in obtaining accurate measurements. This malfunction prevented the spacecraft from achieving the necessary deceleration for a soft landing, resulting in what engineers believe was a hard impact with the lunar surface. Subsequent attempts to reestablish communication through a remote reboot command proved unsuccessful.
This failure marks the second unsuccessful moon landing attempt for ispace, following a 2023 mission that was compromised by a software error. The company’s struggles stand in contrast to recent
achievements by American competitors, with Texas-based firms Intuitive Machines Inc. and Firefly Aerospace Inc. both reaching significant milestones. Firefly Aerospace became the first private entity to achieve a fully functional lunar landing in March, while Intuitive Machines managed to reach the surface, though its lander ceased functioning shortly after touchdown.
The market response was swift and severe, with ispace’s shares plummeting nearly 29% on the Tokyo exchange following the
announcement. However, company leadership maintained an optimistic outlook, with CEO Takeshi Hakamada drawing parallels to SpaceX’s early challenges, noting how that company overcame initial failures to dominate the launch market.
Despite this latest setback, ispace appears committed to pursuing its lunar objectives. Chief Financial Officer Jumpei Nozaki recently disclosed to CNN that funding has already been secured for a third lunar landing attempt, indicating the company’s determination to persist in its space exploration endeavors.
The failed mission represents more than just a corporate setback; it highlights the ongoing challenges in Japan’s broader aspirations for commercial space exploration. As private companies worldwide race to establish themselves in the emerging lunar economy, each success and failure carries significant implications for national space programs and commercial space initiatives.
The incident underscores the complex technical challenges involved in lunar landings, particularly the critical final moments of descent when precise measurements and calculations are essential for success. The malfunction of the laser rangefinder system demonstrates how even small technical issues can have catastrophic consequences in space missions, where there is little margin for error.
For ispace, the path forward will likely involve thorough analysis of this mission’s failure, refinement of their technical systems, and careful preparation for their planned third attempt. The company’s experience adds to the growing body of knowledge about the challenges and risks involved in private lunar exploration, as commercial space companies continue their pursuit of establishing a sustainable presence on the moon.