Private Space Company News

science-and-technology3 years ago•1 min saved

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.

via ABC News|

#japanese-spacecraft #lunar-surface #moon-landing

space3 years ago•2 min saved

Japan's lunar lander captures stunning photo of Earth during solar eclipse.

Japan's Hakuto-R lunar lander captured a stunning image of Earth during a total solar eclipse before crashing into the moon's surface. The private space company ispace's Mission 1 aimed to make the first commercial craft to touch down on the moon. However, the craft lost contact with ground controllers during its final approach towards the lunar surface. Despite its fate, Hakuto-R delivered some of the most spectacular images ever taken in lunar orbit, and its approach will provide valuable data for future missions.

via Yahoo Life|

#earth #lunar-lander #moon

space3 years ago•2 min saved

Japan's lunar lander captures stunning photo of Earth during solar eclipse.

Japan's Hakuto-R lunar lander captured a stunning image of Earth during a total solar eclipse before crashing into the moon's surface. The private space company ispace's Mission 1 aimed to make the first commercial craft to touch down on the moon. However, the craft lost contact with ground controllers during its final approach towards the lunar surface. Despite its fate, Hakuto-R delivered some of the most spectacular images ever taken in lunar orbit, and its approach will provide valuable data for future missions.

via Yahoo|

#earth #lunar-lander #moon

space3 years ago•3 min saved

Japan's ispace lunar lander likely crashed during historic mission.

Japanese private space company ispace's spacecraft, carrying a mini lunar rover for the United Arab Emirates and a toylike robot from Japan, crashed while attempting to land on the moon after unexpectedly accelerating. The company confirmed that there was a high probability that the lander had slammed into the moon. If successful, ispace would have been the first private business to pull off a lunar landing. The company's CEO vowed to try again, saying a second moonshot is already in the works for next year.

via NBC News|

#ispace #lunar-mission #moon-landing

science-and-technology3 years ago•3 min saved

Japanese company investigates lunar lander crash on moon

Japanese private space company ispace's spacecraft crashed while attempting to land on the moon, losing contact moments before touchdown. The company confirmed that there was "a high probability" that the lander had slammed into the moon. If successful, ispace would have been the first private business to pull off a lunar landing. The 7-foot Japanese lander carried a mini lunar rover for the United Arab Emirates and a toylike robot from Japan designed to roll around in the moon dust for about 10 days. The company has already raised $300 million to cover the first three missions.

via KFDA|

#japan #lunar-exploration #moon-landing

space3 years ago•2 min saved

Japan's ispace set to make history with commercial lunar landing

Japanese startup ispace is set to land its Hakuto-R Mission 1 spacecraft on the moon, which would be the world's first lunar landing by a private company if successful. The M1 lander will touch down on the moon's surface after taking off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on a SpaceX rocket in December. The M1 will deploy a two-wheeled, baseball-sized rover developed by JAXA, Japanese toymaker Tomy Co, and Sony Group, as well as the United Arab Emirates' four-wheeled "Rashid" Rover. The M1 is also carrying an experimental solid-state battery made by NGK Spark Plug Co, among other objects to gauge how they perform on the moon.

via Reuters|

#japan #lunar-landing #moon-mission