Software and Location Switch Blamed for Japanese Moon Lander Crash.
A private Japanese spacecraft, belonging to ispace, crashed into the lunar surface due to a software issue and a last-minute switch in the touchdown location. The spacecraft was supposed to land in a flat plain, but the target was changed to a crater before the launch. The crater's steep cliff confused the onboard software, and the spacecraft went into free-fall from less than 3 miles up, slamming into the lunar surface. The company is still on track to attempt another moon landing in 2024, and all the lessons learned will be incorporated into the next try.