Private US, Japanese lunar landers launch on single rocket
10 hours, 16 minutes ago

Private US, Japanese lunar landers launch on single rocket

The Hindu  

One rocket, two missions: lunar landers built by US and Japanese companies launched their "rideshare" to the Moon on Wednesday, showcasing the private sector's growing role in space exploration. On board the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket that took off from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida were Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost and ispace's Resilience from Japan, which will also deploy a micro rover. "Each milestone we complete will provide valuable data for future missions and ultimately keep the United States and our international partners at the forefront of space exploration," Firefly Aerospace CEO Jason Kim said Tuesday. Staying upright On the Japanese side, Tokyo-based ispace's first attempt to land on the Moon ended in an unsalvageable "hard landing" in April 2023.

Resilience Space Japan Earth Moon Japanese Nasa Lunar Blue Ghost  rocket  lunar  japanese  moons  space  landers  missions  soft  moon  single  private  launch  scientific  ghost  spacex  resilience

History of this topic

2 private lunar landers head toward the moon in a roundabout journey
Trending News
10 hours, 55 minutes ago

2 private lunar landers head toward the moon in a roundabout journey

Deccan Chronicle  

In a two-for-one moonshot, SpaceX launched a pair of lunar landers Wednesday for U.S. and Japanese companies looking to jumpstart business on Earth’s dusty sidekick. The two landers rocketed away in the middle of the night from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, the latest in a stream of private spacecraft aiming for the moon. The slightly bigger ispace lander named Resilience …

Japan's ispace to land spacecraft on Moon's Sea of Cold, take a long lunar route
3 weeks, 6 days ago

Japan's ispace to land spacecraft on Moon's Sea of Cold, take a long lunar route

India Today  

Ispace, a Tokyo-based lunar exploration company, has unveiled details for its second lunar mission, SMBC x HAKUTO-R Mission 2, during a keynote address. The Resilience lunar lander, developed by ispace, will utilise a low-energy trajectory similar to its predecessor in Mission 1. Graphic: ispace “Mission 2 represents our continued commitment to the lunar economy,” said Takeshi Hakamada, Founder & CEO …

Japan’s moon lander wasn’t built to survive a weekslong lunar night. It’s still going after 3
8 months, 3 weeks ago

Japan’s moon lander wasn’t built to survive a weekslong lunar night. It’s still going after 3

Associated Press  

TOKYO — Japan’s first moon lander has survived a third freezing lunar night, Japan’s space agency said Wednesday after receiving an image from the device three months after it landed on the moon. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said the lunar probe responded to a signal from the earth Tuesday night, confirming it has survived another weekslong lunar night. The …

First US Moon lander in 50 years finally gives up on lunar surface
10 months, 1 week ago

First US Moon lander in 50 years finally gives up on lunar surface

The Independent  

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The Odysseus lander, made by private company Intuitive Machines, landed on the Moon on 22 February. Intuitive …

Japan Moon lander put to sleep after surviving lunar night
10 months, 1 week ago

Japan Moon lander put to sleep after surviving lunar night

The Hindu  

Japan's Moon lander has been put back to sleep after it surprisingly survived the freezing, two-week lunar night, the country's space agency said, with another operation attempt scheduled for later this month. "SLIM has gone to sleep again as the sun set after 3 am on March 1," the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday, …

First US moon lander in half a century stops working a week after tipping over at touchdown
10 months, 2 weeks ago

First US moon lander in half a century stops working a week after tipping over at touchdown

Associated Press  

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — The first U.S. spacecraft to land on the moon since the Apollo astronauts fell silent Thursday, a week after breaking a leg at touchdown and tipping over near the lunar south pole. Intuitive Machines spokesman Josh Marshall said these final steps drained the lander’s batteries and put Odysseus “down for a long nap.” “Good night, Odie. …

Here’s a look at moon landing hits and misses
10 months, 3 weeks ago

Here’s a look at moon landing hits and misses

Associated Press  

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Landing a spacecraft on the moon has long been a series of hits and misses. A lander built by Intuitive Machines through a NASA- The achievement puts the U.S. back on the moon for the first time since NASA astronauts closed out the Apollo program in 1972. Another U.S. company — Astrobotic Technology — tried to …

First U.S. moon lander in 52 years touches down but sends weak signal
10 months, 3 weeks ago

First U.S. moon lander in 52 years touches down but sends weak signal

The Hindu  

A private lander touched down on the moon on February 22 but managed just a weak signal back, as flight controllers scrambled to gain better contact with the first U.S. spacecraft to reach the lunar surface in more than 50 years. Another company gave it a shot last month, but never made it to the moon, and the lander crashed …

Private lander makes first US moon landing in more than 50 years
10 months, 3 weeks ago

Private lander makes first US moon landing in more than 50 years

New Indian Express  

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.: A private lander on Thursday made the first U.S. touchdown on the moon in more than 50 years, but managed just a weak signal back until flight controllers scrambled to gain better contact. “What we can confirm, without a doubt, is our equipment is on the surface of the moon,” mission director Tim Crain reported as tension …

Private lunar lander is closing in on the first US touchdown on the moon in a half-century
10 months, 3 weeks ago

Private lunar lander is closing in on the first US touchdown on the moon in a half-century

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A private lunar lander circled …

Private U.S. spacecraft enters orbit around the moon ahead of landing attempt
10 months, 3 weeks ago

Private U.S. spacecraft enters orbit around the moon ahead of landing attempt

The Hindu  

A private U.S. lunar lander reached the moon and eased into a low orbit Wednesday, a day before it will attempt an even greater feat — landing on the gray, dusty surface. A smooth touchdown would put the U.S. back in business on the moon for the first time since NASA astronauts closed out the Apollo program in 1972. Another …

Private US spacecraft enters orbit around the moon ahead of landing attempt
10 months, 3 weeks ago

Private US spacecraft enters orbit around the moon ahead of landing attempt

Associated Press  

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A private U.S. lunar lander reached the moon and eased into a low orbit Wednesday, a day before it will attempt an even greater feat — landing on the gray, dusty surface. A smooth touchdown would put the U.S. back in business on the moon for the first time since NASA astronauts closed out the Apollo …

Intuitive Machines’ Odysseus: Why moon-landing missions are hard to do
10 months, 3 weeks ago

Intuitive Machines’ Odysseus: Why moon-landing missions are hard to do

CNN  

Sign up for CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter. Private space company Astrobotic Technology had hoped its Peregrine lunar lander would make history after its recent January launch, but the company waved off the landing attempt mere hours after liftoff because of a critical fuel leak and brought the spacecraft back to burn up in Earth’s atmosphere. And every sensor and …

Intuitive Machines’ private Moon mission has successfully launched from Earth
11 months ago

Intuitive Machines’ private Moon mission has successfully launched from Earth

The Independent  

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The Nova-C Odysseus lander, built by Texas-based space flight company Intuitive Machines, could become the first private …

US Lunar Lander Rockets Toward Moon For a Touchdown Attempt Next Week - News18
11 months ago

US Lunar Lander Rockets Toward Moon For a Touchdown Attempt Next Week - News18

News 18  

A moon lander built by US-based aerospace company Intuitive Machines was launched from Florida early on Thursday on a mission to conduct the first American lunar touchdown in more than a half-century. Falcon rocket blasted off in the middle of the night from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, dispatching the lunar lander on its way to the moon, 370,000 kilometers away. …

Private U.S. moon lander launched 52 years after last Apollo lunar mission
11 months ago

Private U.S. moon lander launched 52 years after last Apollo lunar mission

The Hindu  

A moon lander built by Houston-based aerospace company Intuitive Machines was launched from Florida early on Thursday on a mission to conduct the first U.S. lunar touchdown in more than a half century and the first by a privately owned spacecraft. Thursday's launch came a month after the lunar lander of another private firm, Astrobotic Technology, suffered a propulsion system …

Moon landing attempt: Another US lunar lander blasts off
11 months ago

Moon landing attempt: Another US lunar lander blasts off

Associated Press  

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Another private U.S. company took a shot at the moon Thursday, launching a month after a rival’s lunar lander missed its mark and came crashing back. SpaceX’s Falcon rocket blasted off in the middle of the night from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, dispatching Intuitive Machines’ lunar lander on its way to the moon, 230,000 miles away. …

US company's lunar lander rockets toward the moon for a touchdown attempt next week
11 months ago

US company's lunar lander rockets toward the moon for a touchdown attempt next week

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Another private U.S. company took …

US to launch next Moon mission on Valentine's Day
11 months, 1 week ago

US to launch next Moon mission on Valentine's Day

Hindustan Times  

US companies are set to launch for the Moon on February 14, less than a month since a similar mission ended in failure with the spaceship burning up in the Earth's atmosphere, NASA said Wednesday. HT Image The upcoming attempt features a lander built by Houston-based Intuitive Machines fixed to the top of a SpaceX rocket, while the last try …

Japan confirms moon-lander made ‘pinpoint’ landing, with Chandrayaan help
11 months, 2 weeks ago

Japan confirms moon-lander made ‘pinpoint’ landing, with Chandrayaan help

The Hindu  

Japan’s space agency has confirmed its moon-lander successfully achieved its pinpoint landing on the moon on January 19. As the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon touched down near Shioli crater, Japan became the fifth country to soft-land a robotic instrument on the moon, months after India’s Chandrayaan 3 succeeded in August 2023. At this stage, SLIM used maps of the …

Japan’s precision moon lander has hit its target, but it appears to be upside-down
11 months, 3 weeks ago

Japan’s precision moon lander has hit its target, but it appears to be upside-down

Associated Press  

TOKYO — Japan’s space agency said Thursday that its first lunar mission hit the tiny patch of the moon’s surface it was aiming for, in a successful demonstration of its pinpoint landing system — although the probe appears to be lying upside-down. JAXA project manager Shinichiro Sakai said the images sent back were just like those he’d imagined and seen …

Japan's Moon Lander Has Landed, But Solar Cells 'Not Generating Power': Space Agency
11 months, 3 weeks ago

Japan's Moon Lander Has Landed, But Solar Cells 'Not Generating Power': Space Agency

News 18  

Japan’s Moon craft landed on the lunar surface on Saturday and communications have been established, but its solar cells are not generating power, space agency JAXA said. The lander began its “powered descent sequence” at around midnight Japanese time and after scanning the surface and hovering, appeared to have landed, JAXA’s live visualisation showed. “The ‘sniper’ landing precision is a …

Japan aims for the world's first ‘pinpoint landing’ on moon today
11 months, 3 weeks ago

Japan aims for the world's first ‘pinpoint landing’ on moon today

Hindustan Times  

Japan hopes to make the world's first “pinpoint landing” on the moon early Saturday, joining a modern push for lunar contact with roots in the Cold War-era space race between the United States and the Soviet Union. India India last year became the first country to land a spacecraft near the moon's south pole, where scientists believe that perpetually darkened …

Japan aims for Lunar success with smart lander mission on January 20
11 months, 3 weeks ago

Japan aims for Lunar success with smart lander mission on January 20

Live Mint  

In a bid to overcome setbacks, Japan is set to attempt a soft landing on the moon's surface with the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon early Saturday morning. China's notable achievements, including a soft landing on the moon's far side in 2019 and a Mars landing in 2021, have added pressure on Japan. Despite past lunar attempts, Japan's space agency, …

First US lunar lander in more than 50 years rockets toward moon with commercial deliveries
1 year ago

First US lunar lander in more than 50 years rockets toward moon with commercial deliveries

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The first U.S. lunar lander …

Moon landing attempt by U.S. company appears doomed after ‘critical’ fuel leak
1 year ago

Moon landing attempt by U.S. company appears doomed after ‘critical’ fuel leak

LA Times  

The first U.S. moon landing attempt in more than 50 years appeared to be doomed after a private company’s spacecraft developed a “critical” fuel leak just hours after Monday’s launch. Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic Technology managed to orient its lander toward the sun so the solar panel could collect sunlight and charge its battery, as a special team assessed the status of …

Two companies will attempt the first US moon landings since the Apollo missions a half-century ago
1 year ago

Two companies will attempt the first US moon landings since the Apollo missions a half-century ago

Associated Press  

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — China and India scored moon landings, while Russia, Japan and Israel ended up in the lunar trash heap. Not only are Astrobotic and Intuitive Machines looking to end America’s moon-landing drought, they’re vying for bragging rights as the first private entity to land — gently — on the moon. His counterpart at Intuitive Machines, Steve Altemus, …

Japan’s moon probe enters lunar orbit, slated for historic landing on January 20
1 year ago

Japan’s moon probe enters lunar orbit, slated for historic landing on January 20

Firstpost  

The lander’s descent towards the moon is expected to start around midnight Japan time on January 20, with its landing on the surface scheduled for 20 minutes later. Japanese missions have failed twice – one public and one private Japan’s SLIM space probe has entered the moon’s orbit marking a major step towards the country’s first successful lunar landing, expected …

Japan eyes fifth spot in elite space club, ‘moon sniper’ to attempt landing on lunar surface tomorrow
1 year, 4 months ago

Japan eyes fifth spot in elite space club, ‘moon sniper’ to attempt landing on lunar surface tomorrow

Firstpost  

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency mission is scheduled to take off from the Tanegashima Space Centre in southern Japan on Thursday, according to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which oversees launches for JAXA and has built the H-IIA rocket carrying the lander Japan is aiming to become the fifth country to land a spacecraft on the lunar surface with the launch of …

India's spacecraft is preparing to land on the moon in the country's second attempt in 4 years
1 year, 4 months ago

India's spacecraft is preparing to land on the moon in the country's second attempt in 4 years

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy India was counting down to …

Russia launches first lunar lander in nearly 50 years in race to find water on moon
1 year, 5 months ago

Russia launches first lunar lander in nearly 50 years in race to find water on moon

The Independent  

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Russia has launched its first moon-landing spacecraft in almost 50 years in a …

Russia launches first Moon mission in 47 years
1 year, 5 months ago

Russia launches first Moon mission in 47 years

Live Mint  

Russia successfully launched its inaugural moon-landing spacecraft on Friday in 47 years. As per a report by Reuters, Russia's recent lunar mission, it's inaugural one since 1976, is in a competitive race with India, which sent its Chandrayaan-3 lunar lander to space last month. According to Yuri Borisov, the head of Russia's space agency Roscosmos, the lunar lander is anticipated …

Crash of private Japanese moon lander blamed on software, last-minute location switch
1 year, 7 months ago

Crash of private Japanese moon lander blamed on software, last-minute location switch

Associated Press  

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A private Japanese moon lander went into free-fall while trying to land on the lunar surface last month, company officials said Friday, blaming a software issue and a last-minute switch in the touchdown location. The crater’s steep sides apparently confused the onboard software, and the 7-foot spacecraft went into a free-fall from less than 3 miles …

Japan’s Lunar Dreams Dashed: Tokyo startup’s moon rover fails moments before touchdown
1 year, 8 months ago

Japan’s Lunar Dreams Dashed: Tokyo startup’s moon rover fails moments before touchdown

Firstpost  

Japan’s first mission to the moon, iSpace’s Hakuto-R Mission 1 lander lost communication with the Mission Control Centre just moments before landing. In a gut-wrenching moment for Japan, the country’s first commercialised mission to the Moon, after its startup iSpace’s lunar rover had some communication issues just moments before touchdown. While Japan’s senior government spokesperson, Hirokazu Matsuno, expressed regret that …

Japanese lunar lander presumed lost after attempting to land on Moon
1 year, 8 months ago

Japanese lunar lander presumed lost after attempting to land on Moon

The Independent  

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The whereabouts of a Japanese lunar lander are unknown after flight controllers lost …

Moon landing today – live: Japanese lunar lander may have crashed, company says after losing contact
1 year, 8 months ago

Moon landing today – live: Japanese lunar lander may have crashed, company says after losing contact

The Independent  

✕ Close Japan: Moment ispace’s mission control room loses contact with first private moon lander Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Tokyo-based ispace …

Japanese company: ‘High probability’ lander crashed on moon
1 year, 8 months ago

Japanese company: ‘High probability’ lander crashed on moon

Associated Press  

A Japanese company’s spacecraft apparently crashed while attempting to land on the moon Wednesday, losing contact moments before touchdown and sending flight controllers scrambling to figure out what happened. More than six hours after communication ceased, the Tokyo company ispace finally confirmed what everyone had suspected, saying there was “a high probability” that the lander had slammed into the moon. …

Japanese lunar craft likely crashed during Moon landing, company says
1 year, 8 months ago

Japanese lunar craft likely crashed during Moon landing, company says

The Independent  

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Officials at the Japanese company ispace believe the lunar lander they were attempting …

'High Probability' Spacecraft Crashed On Moon, Japanese Company Says
1 year, 8 months ago

'High Probability' Spacecraft Crashed On Moon, Japanese Company Says

Huff Post  

This time exposure photo shows a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a payload including two lunar rovers from Japan and the United Arab Emirates, launching from Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on Dec. 11, 2022. A Japanese company’s spacecraft apparently crashed while attempting to land on the moon Wednesday, April 26, …

‘High probability spacecraft crashed on lunar surface,’ says Tokyo-based space firm
1 year, 8 months ago

‘High probability spacecraft crashed on lunar surface,’ says Tokyo-based space firm

Firstpost  

The unmanned Hakuto-R Mission 1 lander had been scheduled to touch down on the Moon’s surface overnight, but about 25 minutes after the landing was to have occurred, the company could not establish contact A Japanese startup’s spacecraft apparently crashed while attempting to land on the lunar surface early on Wednesday, losing contact moments before touchdown and sending its controllers …

Contact is lost with a Japanese spacecraft attempting to land on the moon
1 year, 8 months ago

Contact is lost with a Japanese spacecraft attempting to land on the moon

NPR  

Contact is lost with a Japanese spacecraft attempting to land on the moon Enlarge this image toggle caption ispace via AP ispace via AP A Japanese company lost contact with its spacecraft moments before touchdown on the moon Wednesday, saying the mission had apparently failed. The 7-foot lander Japanese lander carried a mini lunar rover for the United Arab Emirates …

Space Travel: Japanese space startup tries to be the first commercial space org to land on the Moon
1 year, 8 months ago

Space Travel: Japanese space startup tries to be the first commercial space org to land on the Moon

Firstpost  

Japan’s iSpace is a startup that may become the first commercial player to land on the moon. A Japanese space startup called iSpace will try to land on the Moon this week, in one of their modules. Others in the works are a result of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services Programme, which was launched in 2018 to engage the private …

Japanese company’s lander rockets toward moon with UAE rover
2 years, 1 month ago

Japanese company’s lander rockets toward moon with UAE rover

Associated Press  

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A Tokyo company aimed for the moon with its own private lander Sunday, blasting off atop a SpaceX rocket with the United Arab Emirates’ first lunar rover and a toylike robot from Japan that’s designed to roll around up there in the gray dust. Plus there’s national pride — the rover represents “a pioneering national endeavor …

SpaceX launches private mission to moon with Japanese lander, UAE rover
2 years, 1 month ago

SpaceX launches private mission to moon with Japanese lander, UAE rover

New Indian Express  

CAPE CANAVERAL: A Tokyo company aimed for the moon with its own private lander on Sunday, blasting off atop a SpaceX rocket with the United Arab Emirates’ first lunar rover and a toylike robot from Japan that’s designed to roll around up there in the gray dust. By contrast, NASA’s Orion crew capsule with test dummies took five days to …

50 years after America landed on the moon, a robotic lander to launch in two years
5 years, 4 months ago

50 years after America landed on the moon, a robotic lander to launch in two years

Firstpost  

Astrobotic was one of nine companies chosen to compete for $2.6 billion to develop small space vehicles and other tech. The first American spacecraft expected to land on the moon in nearly 50 years will be a robotic moon lander built by closely held Astrobotic Technology Inc and launched in two years by United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket, the companies …

Israeli spacecraft will attempt to land on the moon this week
5 years, 9 months ago

Israeli spacecraft will attempt to land on the moon this week

Daily Mail  

Israel's privately-funded lunar lander will attempt to make history this week by touching down on the surface of the moon. It's the first private craft to make the journey, and passed its most crucial test yet last week when it dropped into lunar orbit. On Thursday April 4, 2019, it passed its most crucial test yet: dropping into lunar orbit …

Israel's Beresheet spacecraft begins orbiting moon in country's maiden lunar voyage
5 years, 9 months ago

Israel's Beresheet spacecraft begins orbiting moon in country's maiden lunar voyage

Firstpost  

The Beresheet spacecraft is on a 7-week mission due to make its touch down on the Moon on 11 April. An Israeli spacecraft on the country’s first lunar mission began orbiting the Moon on Thursday, completing a key manoeuvre ahead of a planned touchdown next week, mission chiefs said. “The lunar capture is an historic event in and of itself …

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