Aerospace & Defense IndustriesJapanese 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
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
June 6, 2025 05:40 JST
Updated on June 6, 2025 12:52 JST
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.