Why a Japan-Based Firm’s Lunar Lander Took Months, Not Days, to Reach the Moon: Insight into Their Bold Mission | CNN

About five months ago, a SpaceX rocket launched from Florida, carrying two lunar landers. One of them, Blue Ghost from Firefly Aerospace, made history by landing upright on the moon in March. The other, Ispace’s lunar lander named Resilience, is set to arrive soon, aiming for a touchdown at 3:24 p.m. ET on Thursday. This comes three months after Blue Ghost’s accomplishment.

Ispace isn’t chasing after first place. Instead, they see value in taking a more gradual approach. Jumpei Nozaki, the CFO, mentioned, “Every day holds unexpected lessons.” This slower journey gives them a chance to learn and practice for future missions.

Three teams from Ispace have been rotating in the Tokyo mission control room to gain valuable experience in deep-space travel. However, taking this long, careful route doesn’t guarantee success. Ispace’s first lunar lander crashed during its descent back in April after a long journey from Earth.

Resilience’s slow, energy-efficient path is like coasting on a bike down hills. It involves traveling vast distances and letting the moon’s gravity pull it into orbit. Other companies, like Firefly and Intuitive Machines, opt for faster, direct routes by using larger engines. For instance, Intuitive’s latest lander reached the moon just a week after launch.

Resilience is lightweight, cost-effective, and has a smaller rocket engine. This longer journey allows for thorough system checks, like testing sensors and navigation tools. However, prolonged exposure to space conditions could strain instruments before they start their tasks on the lunar surface.

Ispace plans to shift gears with their next lunar lander, called Apex 1.0, partnering with Draper to take a quicker route under NASA’s Artemis program. This change is crucial to meet clients’ needs, which include research groups and governments sending cargo to the moon. In space, instruments endure harsh radiation and temperature swings, which could affect their functioning.

With Resilience, Ispace is hopeful about executing exciting tests once the lander successfully arrives. It carries a module for algae-based food production, a deep-space radiation monitor, and a device designed to generate oxygen and hydrogen on the moon.

Unlike their first lunar lander, which crashed near the Atlas crater, Ispace’s new target is Mare Frigoris, a much flatter area in the moon’s northern region. The new site was selected for its easier terrain, allowing for more landing flexibility.

The firm’s touchdown attempt will be livestreamed on platforms like YouTube and X. If Resilience lands successfully, Ispace will become the first commercial company outside the U.S. to achieve this milestone. This would place them alongside Firefly, which has already celebrated a successful landing, establishing both as leaders in lunar exploration.

Intuitive Machines has also landed vehicles on the moon, but those craft landed on their sides, limiting their research potential. Both Firefly and Intuitive are vital players in NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative, which supports Artemis, NASA’s plan to return humans to the moon after over 50 years. These robotic missions are stepping stones for future manned explorations.

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