Private Japanese Lunar Lander Enters Moon Orbit

A Japanese commercial spacecraft has successfully entered orbit around the Moon, setting the stage for a high-stakes landing attempt scheduled for early June. Tokyo-based aerospace firm ispace confirmed on Monday that its Resilience lunar lander is now in stable lunar orbit.

The mission, a collaboration between ispace and U.S.-based Firefly Aerospace, was launched in January aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. It marks a significant chapter in the expanding role of private companies in lunar exploration.

Commercial Lunar Race Accelerates

Firefly Aerospace made headlines in March 2025 when it became the first private company to land a spacecraft on the Moon without crashing or tipping over—an accomplishment widely regarded as a technological milestone in commercial spaceflight. Shortly afterward, Intuitive Machines, another U.S. aerospace firm, successfully landed a lunar craft. However, its lander ended up resting on its side inside a crater, underscoring the complex risks of extraterrestrial landings.

Now, attention turns to ispace, which is aiming to deliver a precise and upright landing during the first week of June. The mission comes after a failed attempt in 2023, when the company’s inaugural lander crashed during descent due to a last-minute altitude miscalculation.

Advanced Science Payload on Board

The Resilience lander carries a compact but sophisticated lunar rover equipped to conduct a suite of scientific experiments. Its primary objectives include:

• Collection and analysis of lunar soil samples using a mechanical scoop

• Testing advanced navigation and environmental sensing technologies

• Contributing data toward future missions involving resource extraction and human exploration

These experiments aim to enhance scientific understanding of the lunar surface while also supporting Japan’s broader ambitions in space exploration.

Official Statement from ispace

“The successful lunar orbit insertion of our Resilience lander marks a major milestone in our journey to the Moon,” the company said in a statement. “With a renewed mission architecture and upgraded lander systems, we are confident as we move into the final phase of this historic mission.”

If successful, ispace will become the first Japanese company to land on the Moon and only the third private entityglobally to achieve the feat.