Hakuto-R Mission 2 is a robotic lunar landing mission planned for December 2024.[1] Developed by ispace, the lander will deliver a new micro rover manufactured by the company, and other payloads. Like Hakuto-R Mission 1 this mission will serve as a technology demonstration, with the final goal of providing reliable transportation and data services on the moon. The lander is named Resilience.[2]
 Full-size model of Hakuto-R | |
| Mission type | Technology demonstration |
|---|---|
| Operator | ispace |
| Website | ispace-inc |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | Hakuto-R M2 |
| Spacecraft type | Lunar lander |
| Manufacturer | ispace |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | December 2024 (planned) |
| Rocket | Falcon 9 Block 5 |
| Contractor | SpaceX |
Background
editThe project began development after the Hakuto-R Mission 1 in 2023. The mission plans to use the same overall design with upgrades from the flight data collected in mission 1.[3]
Lander specifications
editThe Resilience lander will stand 2.5 by 2.3 meters and has a weight of 340 kg. The lander will include a micro rover that is planned to perform an ISRU demonstration.[4]
Mission
editThe mission is planned to launch no earlier than December 2024.[5] The lander will also carry a memory disk developed by the UNESCO organization carrying 275 languages and other cultural artifacts.[6] The lander completed successful vacuum testing in June 2024.[7] In August 2024, the rover which will be integrated with the lander was completed.[8]
Landing site
edit
The intended landing site for mission is in Mare Frigoris, a location allowing continuous line-of-sight radio communication from Earth.[5]
Rover
editThe mission includes a 5 kg (11 lb) rover designed and manufactured in Luxembourg which will explore the area around the landing site, after being lowered to the lunar surface from the lander.[9]
Payloads
editIn addition to the rover the lander will carry payloads from Takasago Thermal Engineering Co., Euglena Co., National Central University and Bandai Namco Research Institute, Inc.[5]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Foust, Jeff (12 September 2024). "Second ispace lunar lander planned for launch in December". SpaceNews. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
- ^ "ispace Announces Mission 2 with Unveiling of Micro Rover Design". ispace. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
- ^ Dixit, Mrigakshi. "Japan's ispace aims for moon landing in 2024 with upgraded lander". Interesting Engineering. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
- ^ Alamalhodaei, Aria (2023-11-16). "Despite setbacks, ispace to launch second moon mission in Q4 2024". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
- ^ a b c "ispace Announces Launch Timing, RESILIENCE Lander Progress, and Planned Lunar Landing Zone During Mission 2 Update Press Conference". 2024-09-12.
- ^ Meredith Garofalo (2024-05-08). "Private lunar lander to carry 'memory disk' of 275 human languages to the moon in 2024". Space.com. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
- ^ "ispace RESILIENCE Lunar Lander Successfully Achieves Testing Milestone in Preparation for Mission 2". ispace. Retrieved 2024-06-30.
- ^ NEWS, KYODO. "ispace's lunar rover arrives in Japan to prepare for 2nd space probe". Kyodo News+. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
- ^ "ispace-EUROPE announces Completion of First European Designed, Manufactured, and Assembled Lunar Micro Rover". 2024-07-25.