SpaceX Launches ispace Mission 1 Lunar Lander

December 12, 2022

ispace, a global lunar exploration company, released a status update on its HAKUTO-R Mission 1 lunar lander, following a successful launch by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla., on December 11, 2022.

The HAKUTO-R Mission Control Center in Nihonbashi, Tokyo, confirmed that a stable communications link with the lander has been established.

By completing launch and separation, “Success 2” of the Mission 1 Milestones has been achieved. By clearing this stage, the Series 1 lander has demonstrated its ability to withstand the extreme conditions of launch, validating its design and providing information that will be used in future development. After separation from the rocket, the Mission Control Center confirmed communication with the lander. Operations to establish a stable attitude, as well as stable power generation are in progress.

Mission 1 Milestones

For Mission 1, ispace has set 10 milestones between launch and landing, and aims to achieve the success criteria established for each of these milestones. Recognizing the possibility of an anomaly during the mission, the results will be weighed and evaluated against the criteria and incorporated into future missions already in development between now and 2025. Mission 2 and Mission 3, which also will contribute to NASA’s Artemis Program, will further improve the maturity of ispace’s technology and business model. Future announcements on progress of milestone achievement are expected to be released once attained.