Tokyo, June 6, 2025 — Japan’s highly anticipated lunar mission has suffered a significant setback, as communication with the "Resilience" spacecraft was lost just moments before its scheduled landing on the Moon.
Developed by a private Japanese aerospace company, the Resilience spacecraft was expected to achieve a historic touchdown, marking a major milestone for Japan’s growing presence in space exploration. However, just minutes before landing, the mission control team reported a sudden loss of communication, leaving the fate of the spacecraft uncertain.
Officials from Japan’s space agency (JAXA) and the private team behind the mission are now working urgently to re-establish contact and determine whether the lander managed to reach the lunar surface safely or if it crashed.
The Resilience mission was aimed at collecting valuable data from the Moon’s surface, contributing to global scientific efforts and paving the way for future lunar explorations. The attempt followed Japan’s previous lunar mission setbacks and was seen as a crucial test of its domestic aerospace capabilities.
Early indicators suggest a possible technical failure during the critical descent phase, but mission scientists are withholding final conclusions until a thorough investigation is completed.
This incident comes amid increasing global competition in space, with countries such as India, China, and the United States actively pursuing advanced lunar missions. Despite this latest disappointment, Japan’s commitment to space exploration remains firm.
