Tokyo-based space startup ispace has officially confirmed the failure of its lunar landing mission after losing contact with its lander during descent early on Friday (June 6).
In a press conference held shortly after 9:00 am Japan time, ispace announced the mission's end, stating that regaining communication with the lander was no longer possible.
The lander, which was launched in January from Florida, successfully entered lunar orbit and began its descent from an altitude of 100 kilometers around 3:00 am on Friday.
It was set to make a soft landing at 4:17 am in a flat area near Mare Frigoris, known as the "Sea of Cold" in the Moon's northern hemisphere.
However, by 4:30 am, the company reported that it had not reestablished contact with the lander and initiated an investigation. The team ultimately determined that the mission had failed to achieve a soft landing.
This was the second attempt following a previous failure in 2023, when a miscalculation in altitude led to a crash.
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