Two Private Lunar Landers Embark on a Roundabout Journey to the Moon

15.01.2025

 

SpaceX launched two lunar landers on Wednesday, one for a U.S. company and another for a Japanese company, marking a new milestone in private lunar exploration. The two landers, departing from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in the middle of the night, are part of a growing number of private missions aimed at the moon. These landers shared a ride to the moon, each taking different indirect paths to reach their destination over the course of several months, reducing costs for the companies involved.

This marks the second attempt for Tokyo-based ispace, whose first lander crashed into the moon two years ago. This time, the company is sending a rover equipped with a scoop to collect lunar soil samples and test potential food and water resources for future explorers. Texas-based Firefly Aerospace, meanwhile, is flying 10 NASA experiments, including a vacuum to collect lunar dust and a drill to measure subsurface temperatures. The company’s lander, Blue Ghost, is set to arrive first, aiming to touch down on the moon in early March.

Ispace’s lander, Resilience, will take a longer route, reaching the moon in late May or early June. It will target a touchdown in the Mare Frigoris region, located further north on the moon’s near side. Despite the difference in timing, both companies emphasize that the mission is not a race, with the focus on achieving successful landings and scientific objectives.

Both landers will operate in the lunar daytime for about two weeks, with each mission equipped with instruments designed to gather important data. Ispace’s rover will remain close to the lander, moving slowly and gathering soil while also delivering a small, toy-sized red house created by a Swedish artist as part of its payload.

Firefly’s mission, funded by NASA for $101 million, is a significant step in private space exploration, with both companies contributing to NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the moon by the end of the decade. While NASA prepares for human exploration, these robotic missions help lay the groundwork for future lunar expeditions.

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