In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in space exploration, with many private companies vying to be the first to land on the moon. One such company is Ispace, a Japanese startup that aimed to be the first for-profit company to land on the moon. However, despite its ambitious plans and significant funding, Ispace’s attempt at a lunar landing ultimately failed. Here are some key facts to know about Ispace and its failed mission.
1. Ispace was founded in 2010 with the goal of developing lunar resources.
Ispace was founded by Takeshi Hakamada, a former employee of the Japanese space agency JAXA. The company’s initial goal was to develop technology to mine resources on the moon, such as water and helium-3, which could be used for energy production. However, the company later shifted its focus to lunar exploration and announced plans to land a rover on the moon by 2020.
2. Ispace raised significant funding from investors.
Ispace raised over $90 million in funding from investors, including the Japanese government and several major corporations. The company also won a contract from JAXA to provide lunar transportation services, which was seen as a major validation of its technology and capabilities.
3. Ispace’s lunar landing mission was scheduled for 2021.
Ispace planned to launch its lunar lander, called Hakuto-R, in 2021. The lander was designed to carry a small rover that would explore the lunar surface and collect data on the moon’s geology and resources. Ispace hoped that its mission would pave the way for future commercial lunar exploration and resource development.
4. Ispace’s mission failed due to technical issues.
In July 2021, Ispace announced that its lunar landing mission had failed. The company’s lander successfully launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket but encountered technical issues during its descent to the lunar surface. Ispace stated that the lander’s main engine failed to ignite, causing it to crash into the moon’s surface.
5. Ispace plans to continue its lunar exploration efforts.
Despite the failure of its first lunar landing mission, Ispace has stated that it plans to continue its efforts to explore the moon. The company is currently developing a new lunar lander, called Hakuto-R2, which it hopes to launch in 2023. Ispace also plans to participate in NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services program, which aims to send scientific instruments and technology demonstrations to the moon.
In conclusion, Ispace’s failed attempt at a lunar landing was a setback for the company and for commercial lunar exploration in general. However, the company’s ambitious plans and significant funding demonstrate the growing interest in private space exploration and the potential for commercial development of lunar resources. As Ispace and other companies continue to pursue lunar exploration, it will be interesting to see what new discoveries and innovations emerge from these efforts.
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