Japanese startup's lunar lander crash-lands on moon, again

Two failures in as many years set back ispace's ambitions for Asia's first private landing

20250606 ispce presser

Takeshi Hakamada, ispace CEO, center, speaks during a press conference in Tokyo on June 6. (Photo by Sae Kamae)

AYA ONISHI, MANA KURODA and DAI KUWAMURA

TOKYO -- Japan's ispace said Friday that its lunar lander failed in its attempt to achieve a soft touchdown on the moon, marking the second such setback in as many years and a blow to the startup's ambition to become Asia's first private company to achieve such a feat.

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