Tokyo, Japan – June 5, 2025 – Japanese private space company ispace is gearing up for its second attempt at landing on the Moon, following its unsuccessful first mission in 2023. The Resilience lander, part of the Hakuto-R Mission 2, is scheduled to touch down on Mare Frigoris, a relatively stable lunar region, on June 5, 2025, at 3:24 p.m. EDT (4:24 a.m. JST, June 6).
A Second Chance at Lunar Success
ispace’s first mission ended in failure when its lander lost communication during descent. This time, the company has upgraded navigation systems, improved landing software, and optimized spacecraft weight to increase the chances of success.
The Resilience lander has been orbiting the Moon since May 6, 2025, after launching aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on January 15, 2025. Unlike previous commercial landers that took faster trajectories, Resilience followed a low-energy transfer path, taking months to reach lunar orbit.
Mission Objectives and Scientific Payloads
Once on the surface, Resilience will deploy Tenacious, a mini rover designed to test surface mobility and gather scientific data. The rover will analyze lunar soil conditions, contributing valuable insights for future human and robotic exploration.
Additional payloads include:
- A water electrolyzer to test lunar water extraction for hydrogen and oxygen production.
- A deep-space radiation probe to measure radiation levels on the Moon.
- A cultural payload, including a miniature Moonhouse sculpture by Swedish artist Mikael Genberg.
Global Significance and Future Plans
If successful, this will be Japan’s first private lunar landing, positioning ispace as a key player in commercial spaceflight. The mission supports NASA’s Artemis program and Japan’s collaboration with JAXA and ESA, reinforcing Japan’s commitment to lunar exploration.
ispace envisions annual lunar missions, with long-term goals of establishing sustainable lunar transportation and resource utilization by the 2030s.
How to Watch the Landing Live
The landing attempt will be live-streamed globally via ispace’s official YouTube channel, with coverage in both Japanese and English. The broadcast begins at 2:10 p.m. EDT (3:10 a.m. JST, June 6), about an hour before the scheduled touchdown.
With the world watching, ispace hopes to make history and prove that private lunar exploration is not just a dream—but a reality. 🚀🌕
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