Japanese aerospace firm ispace is ramping up its lunar ambitions with the uncrewed Resilience lander. Scheduled to touch down at 3:17 PM EDT on Thursday in the Mare Figoris region—although there may be tweaks to the landing zone—the mission marks another bold step toward establishing a presence on the moon.
Launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on January 15, Resilience followed a low-energy path to the lunar surface, arriving in orbit by May 6. This contrasts with Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lander, which successfully touched down on the Mare Crisium on March 2, showcasing different approaches in today’s space race.
Measuring about 7.5 feet in height, the lander carries a rover named Tenacious that’s set to explore the moon’s northern terrain. Equipped with a high-definition camera and a shovel for collecting samples for NASA, Tenacious also brings a creative flair along—the Moonhouse, a small red cottage designed by Mikael Genberg, adds an unexpected artistic touch to the mission.
If the primary landing site turns out to be unsuitable, the team is prepared with three backup locations, though this might delay the touchdown. For those eager to witness the event, ispace will stream the launch live on YouTube at 2:20 PM EDT, offering options in both English and Japanese.
After a challenging first attempt in April 2023 when its initial lander struggled to secure a safe landing in Atlas Crater, ispace remains undeterred. The company’s vision is clear—a lunar settlement by 2040 that could support a community of 1,000 residents and visitors alike. Looking ahead, collaborative plans with NASA include deploying an even larger lander by 2027.
