Japan’s ispace Misses Second Moon Landing – What Happened and What’s Next?

Landing on the Moon is not easy. And for Japan’s private space company ispace, it’s proving to be one tough challenge. In their second shot at making a safe lunar landing — this time with the Resilience lander — the mission did not go as planned. While it’s a setback, there’s more to the story than just failure.

So what actually happened? What’s the bigger picture here? And why should we all care about missions like this, even if they don’t always succeed?

A Second Attempt, Another Setback

On Saturday, June 1st, ispace attempted a historic moon landing with their latest spacecraft, the Resilience lander. But shortly after touchdown attempt, things took a wrong turn. Communication broke off. For a few tense moments, mission controllers had hope — maybe it made it. But soon, they had to face the reality: once again, the lander didn’t survive the final step.

This marks the second failed lunar landing attempt by ispace. Their first mission in 2023 also ended in disappointment when their Hakuto-R lander crashed during its descent. The company learned a lot from that attempt, which fueled optimism for this second shot. Sadly, the outcome was all too familiar.

What Is ispace? And Why Are They Going to the Moon?

Not familiar with ispace? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Here’s a quick breakdown:

• ispace is a Japanese space startup, part of the fast-growing private space sector.
• The company was originally part of Google’s Lunar XPRIZE competition.
• Their goal? Commercial lunar transportation — basically, carrying cargo and technology to and from the Moon for paying customers.

Sure, sending people to the Moon sounds exciting, but ispace is focused on something a bit more down-to-earth — building the infrastructure for a lunar economy. Think of it like a delivery service, but for space: sending robots, parts, and tools across 384,000 km of space.

What Made the Resilience Mission Different?

This wasn’t just a repeat of their last mission. The Resilience lander was improved, smaller, and faster to build. This time, ispace also teamed up with the U.S. — the mission was part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. That’s a mouthful, but what it really means is: NASA wants help from private companies to explore the Moon, and ispace was one of the chosen partners.

The lander was carrying a few small payloads, including tech experiments and instruments to help future missions gather lunar data. For a small spacecraft, it carried a lot of big hopes. But like any space mission, things can go wrong — and this one clearly did during that final descent.

Why Is Landing on the Moon So Hard?

You might be wondering, “Aren’t we way past this? Didn’t humans walk on the Moon over 50 years ago?” Yes, they did. But here’s the thing: landing safely is not just about building a rocket. It’s about navigation, timing, software, surface mapping — and doing it all without any help once the lander starts its descent.

There’s no one at the controls screaming ‘Abort’ at the last second.

Spacecraft have to perform complicated maneuvers on their own — kind of like trying to land an airplane in a foggy valley, with no radar and no pilot. One misstep in the code, one hardware glitch, or a sensor error… and it’s game over.

What’s Next for ispace?

Despite the setback, ispace isn’t giving up. In fact, they’re already planning their third mission for 2026.

And that’s important. Because every failure in space teaches us something. In their first mission, ispace discovered an error in altitude readings that led to the crash. This time? They haven’t disclosed the exact cause yet — but when they do, it’ll likely shape their future designs. In short — they’re learning, improving, and pressing forward.

It’s also worth noting: this mission wasn’t a total failure. The spacecraft launched successfully via a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. It traveled over a quarter of a million miles, achieved lunar orbit — and made it all the way to the Moon’s surface. Just getting there puts them in rare company.

Private Space Missions – Are They Still Worth It?

Absolutely. In recent years, we’ve seen a boom in private space exploration. Companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, Rocket Lab, and ispace are changing the game. They’re taking huge steps (and big risks) in ways that governments often can’t or won’t.

It’s a bit like the early days of aviation. The Wright Brothers didn’t fly coast-to-coast on day one — they had crashes, setbacks, and a lot of trial and error. But eventually, they made it work, and the world changed. We’re seeing that now… just in space.

Why Should You Care About the Moon?

Good question. Here’s the thing — the Moon might become our gateway to the rest of the solar system.

Think of it as a stepping-stone. Setting up bases or mining resources there could help fuel larger missions to Mars and beyond. Plus, the Moon holds valuable minerals, including rare earth elements that power your phone, laptop, and electric car.

By sending small missions like Resilience, companies like ispace are testing the waters and laying the foundation for a future where the Moon isn’t just a dusty rock — it’s a hub for space travel, science, and commerce.

Conclusion: Setbacks Are Just the Beginning

Sure, ispace’s second landing attempt didn’t go as planned. And no doubt, disappointment hangs in the air. But here’s what really matters: they’re in the arena, taking chances. And every mission brings the dream of sustainable space exploration a little closer.

As space fans, tech lovers, or curious minds, we should be cheering them on — not just when they succeed, but when they fail and get back up.

In case you missed it, here’s a quick recap:

• ispace’s Resilience lander failed its second lunar landing attempt.
• Communication was lost just after descent, suggesting a crash landing.
• The mission was part of NASA’s growing push for private company involvement.
• This was a learning mission and a stepping-stone for future attempts.

So, next time someone says, “We can’t land on the Moon anymore,” point them toward companies like ispace. They’re proving that space is no longer just for the big players — and that even setbacks move us forward.

Want to Stay Updated?

If new space missions, tech breakthroughs, or lunar exploration fascinates you — follow along! We’ll be tracking ispace and many other exciting developments in the changing world of space travel.

Because the sky? It’s not the limit anymore. It’s just the beginning.