• iSpace's second lunar lander, Resilience, likely crashed during its touchdown attempt.
• This failure follows a previous unsuccessful mission in 2023.
• If successful, Resilience would have made iSpace the first non-U.S. company to land on the moon.
• The mission was part of a growing global competition in lunar exploration, including efforts from U.S. companies and state-run missions from China and India.
• Despite setbacks, Japan remains committed to future lunar missions within NASA’s Artemis program.

The Japanese company iSpace's uncrewed lunar lander, Resilience, reportedly crashed onto the moon's surface during an attempted touchdown on June 6, 2025. This incident marks the second consecutive failure for iSpace, which had aimed to join the ranks of U.S. companies like Intuitive Machines and Firefly Aerospace in achieving commercial landings on the lunar surface, according to NY Times, Reuters, and Dawn.

During the landing attempt, communication was reportedly lost less than two minutes before the planned touchdown time, raising concerns about the lander’s ability to slow its descent adequately. Chief Technology Officer Ryo Ujiie indicated that multiple issues could have contributed, including possible problems with the propulsion system or sensors, according to Reuters and Dawn.

The landing was meant to occur in Mare Frigoris, a basalt plain about 900 kilometers from the moon's north pole. If successful, the mission would have involved a 14-day exploration period for the lander and its four-wheeled rover, which carried various scientific instruments including those from Japanese companies and a Taiwanese university, according to Channel News Asia and Channel News Asia.

This setback prompts another delay in Japan's commercial ambitions for lunar exploration, although the country reaffirmed its commitment to participate in NASA's Artemis program. iSpace plans to continue its efforts, including adding more missions in partnership with NASA by 2029, according to Reuters and Dawn.