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Japanese startup Ispace makes second attempt at lunar landing with SpaceX

Rey Alcaraz

Japanese startup Ispace makes second attempt at lunar landing with SpaceX

On January 24, 2025, SpaceX launched a rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, carrying two private lunar landers. Among them is Resilience, developed by Japanese startup Ispace Inc. (ispace). This mission marks ispace’s second attempt to land on the moon, aiming to become the first Asian private company to achieve this milestone in lunar exploration.

The rocket successfully deployed the ispace lander, which is expected to reach the moon by May or June. After a failed attempt in 2022 due to an altitude miscalculation, ispace remains determined to succeed. CEO Takeshi Hakamada described the mission as a pivotal step toward establishing regular lunar transportation.

ispace CEO Takeshi Hakamada said the successful launch was a big step toward more regular voyages in the future. (Photo source: Nikkei Asia)

Resilience carries six payloads, including a rover designed to collect lunar regolith for a commercial transaction with NASA. If successful, this would represent the first-ever sale of lunar resources, a landmark in space commercialization. Other payloads include equipment for algae cultivation and radiation monitoring, highlighting the broad scope of potential lunar applications.

This mission also includes Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lander, making it the first time two private lunar landers have shared a single rocket. Firefly’s NASA-funded mission aims to deliver equipment to the moon by March, underlining the increasing role of private companies in space exploration.

Lunar exploration is intensifying globally, with the market for lunar services projected to grow to $8.4 billion by 2030, according to Allied Market Research. Japan is doubling down on its space sector, supported by a ¥1 trillion ($7 billion) fund launched in 2024 to fuel innovation and startup growth. The Japanese government aims to double the space industry’s market size to ¥8 trillion ($56 billion) by the 2030s.

NASA’s Artemis program is targeting a return to human lunar exploration by 2027, leveraging private sector partnerships, while China’s 2024 milestone of a far-side lunar sample return has spurred competition. The moon is increasingly seen as a critical hub for technological and commercial advancements.

For ispace, a successful mission would cement its leadership in lunar exploration and demonstrate the viability of private-sector innovation in space. Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Tokyo, ispace specializes in developing technologies to support a sustainable lunar economy.

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Rey Alcaraz

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