Moon Lander Crash Caused by Confusion Over Crater Rim, Japanese Startup Says
Japanese startup ispace's moon lander crashed due to a software issue and a decision to change the touchdown location to a crater, which confused the onboard software. The spacecraft went into free-fall and slammed into the lunar surface at a speed of over 300 feet per second. The company plans to attempt another moon landing in 2024, incorporating the lessons learned from the failed attempt.