### Japan's ispace Faces Setback as Second Moon Mission Fails, Eyes 2027 Comeback Japan's private space company, ispace, has encountered another significant setback in its lunar exploration efforts. The company's second attempt to land its lunar lander, named "Resilience," ended in failure when the spacecraft crashed into the Moon's surface on June 6, 2025. This incident follows a previous unsuccessful mission in 2023, marking a challenging period for Japan's ambitions in the commercial space sector. Despite these failures, ispace remains committed to its lunar goals and is planning a third attempt for 2027, as experts highlight the potential benefits of successful lunar landings for scientific research and exploration [https://www.thenationalnews.com/future/space/2025/06/09/japanese-company-sets-sights-on-2027-comeback-after-second-moon-mission-fails]. ### Breakdown of the Recent Lunar Mission Failures 1. **Mission Overview** - The "Resilience" lander was designed to be Japan's first successful private lunar landing. - The mission aimed to make ispace the first non-U.S. private company to achieve a controlled lunar touchdown [https://fortune.com/asia/2025/06/06/ispace-abandons-moon-landing-japan-crash]. 2. **Details of the Failure** - Communication with the lander was lost just moments before the planned landing, leading to the conclusion that it had crashed [https://www.deccanchronicle.com/amp/world/neighbours/japans-ispace-confirms-lunar-landing-mission-a-failure-1883651]. - Preliminary analyses indicated that a malfunction in the laser system, which was supposed to measure altitude, caused the lander to descend too quickly [https://indianexpress.com/article/world/moon-japan-mission-fail-private-lunar-lander-ispace-10051145]. 3. **Impact on Future Missions** - This failure results in a multi-year pause in Japan's commercial access to the Moon, as the company will need time to reassess and prepare for its next attempt in 2027 [https://www.dawn.com/news/1915912/japanese-lander-fails-again-in-moon-landing-attempt]. - ispace's CEO, Takeshi Hakamada, publicly apologized for the setback and expressed gratitude to all contributors to the mission [https://www.mid-day.com/news/world-news/article/japanese-lunar-lander-crashes-into-the-moon-23561712]. ### Supporting Evidence and Data - **Previous Mission Failures**: - The first attempt in 2023 also ended in a crash, leading to the naming of the current lander "Resilience" as a symbol of perseverance [https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/japan-moon-mission-failure-impact-private-space-10051542]. - **Technical Issues**: - The failure of the laser system was a critical factor in the crash, highlighting the technical challenges faced by private space companies [https://indianexpress.com/article/world/moon-japan-mission-fail-private-lunar-lander-ispace-10051145]. - **Future Plans**: - ispace is planning a third lunar mission for 2027, indicating a commitment to overcoming current challenges and achieving its lunar objectives [https://www.thenationalnews.com/future/space/2025/06/09/japanese-company-sets-sights-on-2027-comeback-after-second-moon-mission-fails]. ### Conclusion: A Path Forward for Japan's Lunar Ambitions In summary, **ispace's recent lunar mission failure underscores the complexities and challenges of private space exploration**. The company has faced two consecutive setbacks, but it remains determined to pursue its lunar ambitions with plans for a third attempt in 2027. The failures serve as a reminder of the technical hurdles in the commercial space race, yet they also highlight the potential scientific benefits that successful missions could bring. 1. **Mission Failures**: ispace's "Resilience" lander crashed during its second lunar landing attempt. 2. **Technical Challenges**: Issues with the altitude measurement system contributed to the failure. 3. **Future Commitment**: ispace plans to attempt another lunar landing in 2027, demonstrating resilience in the face of setbacks. The journey to the Moon is fraught with challenges, but ispace's commitment to learning from its failures may pave the way for future successes in lunar exploration [https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/private-lunar-lander-from-japan-crashes-into-moon-in-failed-mission/article69663599.ece].