Science

HAKUTO-R Mission 2's Crash: The Shocking Truth Behind the Laser Range Finder Failure!

2025-06-27

Author: Daniel

The Unforgiving Moon: Another Failed Lunar Landing

In a world where lunar aspirations collide with harsh realities, Japan's ispace has revealed the possible cause behind its unfortunate HAKUTO-R2 Resilience lunar lander failure. This incident joins the ranks of countless missed lunar landings, reminding us that the Moon does not forgive easily.

What Went Wrong? A Deeper Dive into the Technical Mishap

According to ispace's latest press release, engineers have pinpointed the critical failure to the spacecraft's Laser Range Finder (LRF). During flight, the LRF likely suffered performance degradation, resulting in sluggish measurement updates. This led to a catastrophic landing speed of 42 meters per second, sealing the fate of the mission.

A Painful History of Landings

This mission was intended to build on the experiences of HAKUTO-R1, which also failed in April 2023, crashing over the Atlas Crater. The culprit then was a misreading by the main computer of radar altimeter data, preventing a successful descent.

The Landing Challenge: A Do or Die Moment

Landing on the Moon is notoriously difficult. Spacecraft must autonomously navigate and make crucial decisions, from altitude adjustments to avoiding hazards like large boulders. Any miscalculation could lead to devastating results.

A Glimpse into the Final Moments of Resilience

Despite its eventual failure, Resilience achieved eight significant milestones, mastering launch, lunar orbit insertion, and maneuvers in lunar orbit. However, delays in LRF measurements meant it was unable to decelerate properly as it approached the Moon's surface.

Good News from the Rescue Team: Issues Isolated!

Fortunately, other systems—guidance, propulsion, and power—functioned flawlessly. Engineers have determined that the range finder failure was likely due to performance deterioration during the flight, rather than installation errors before launch.

A Series of Lunar Losses: Is Space Exploration at Risk?

ispace’s struggles come amidst a string of lunar lander failures across various missions, including Japan's SLIM lander, Intuitive Machines' IM-1 and IM2, and the catastrophic reentry of Astrobotic’s Peregrine. Not to mention Russia’s Luna 25, which suffered a disastrous landing earlier this year.

The Future of ispace: Perseverance and New Innovations!

Despite these setbacks, ispace CEO Takeshi Hakamada remains optimistic. "We are committed to identifying the root causes and moving forward. We won't let this be a setback; we will strive to regain trust from all stakeholders and continue our journey toward the Moon!"

What Lies Ahead? A Bold New Mission!

Mark your calendars! ispace's next venture, the Hakuto-R Mission 3, is slated for 2027, featuring their innovative APEX 1.0 lunar lander. This upcoming mission signifies not just perseverance but the continuation of collaboration among U.S., Japanese, and Luxembourg-based enterprises.

The Lesson in Resilience: Learning from Mistakes

Landing on the Moon is no small feat, and the journey isn't over for ispace. With a commitment to learning from past experiences, they aim to rise again, making history on the lunar surface as pioneers of the cis-lunar economy.