Japan’s ispace to land Hakuto-R 2 spacecraft on Moon’s Sea of Cold, take a long lunar route

Ispace, a Tokyo-based lunar exploration company, has unveiled details for its second lunar mission, SMBC x HAKUTO-R Mission 2, during a keynote address.

The company confirmed the opening of a six-day launch window starting mid-January 2025. The mission will launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, sharing the ride with Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost Mission 1.

The Resilience lunar lander, developed by ispace, will utilise a low-energy trajectory similar to its predecessor in Mission 1. This approach will extend its transit time to several months, with a planned lunar landing four to five months post-launch.

“Mission 2 represents our continued commitment to the lunar economy,” said Takeshi Hakamada, Founder & CEO of ispace. “Our employees, shareholders, and partners have collaborated tirelessly on the RESILIENCE lander and TENACIOUS, our lunar micro-rover. With many global organisations targeting the Moon, ispace aims to lead in developing a sustainable lunar ecosystem. See you on the Moon!”

ispace’s last attempt to land a spacecraft on the Moon did not go well as the Hakuto-R M1 lander with UAE’s Rashid rover crashed on the lunar surface in April 2023.

WHAT ARE MISSION OBJECTIVES?

Mission 2 builds on the HAKUTO-R program’s success, with a transparent roadmap comprising 10 milestones from launch to landing.

Among these, a lunar flyby approximately one month into the journey will mark a significant achievement, making RESILIENCE the first commercial lander to perform this manoeuvre.

After reaching lunar orbit, the lander will attempt a soft landing near Mare Frigoris (Sea of Cold) at 60.5°N, 4.6°W, selected for its sun-illumination and communication capabilities. Backup sites ensure mission flexibility

SURFACE OPERATIONS: VENTURES AND INNOVATIONS

Once landed, the European-manufactured TENACIOUS micro-rover, co-funded by the Luxembourg Space Agency, will be deployed to conduct groundbreaking exploration. It will deliver the MoonHouse payload, collect lunar regolith for NASA, and demonstrate operational capabilities under ispace-EUROPE’s command.

Mission 2 highlights the growing synergy between private space companies and international agencies, paving the way for a robust lunar economy. The mission’s outcomes will refine ispace’s strategy for future lunar exploration and commercialisation.

“ispace will continue to capitalize on our achievements during Mission 2, to lead the world in the development of the lunar economy. We hope you will join us. See you on the Moon,” akeshi Hakamada, Founder & CEO of ispace said in a statement.