Countdown to History: Japan's ispace Resilience Probe Set for Historic Moon Landing

Eva Lund -

In a groundbreaking leap towards private space exploration, Japan’s ispace is gearing up for a momentous occasion on June 5 with the landing of their Resilience probe on the moon. According to Space, this marks a significant milestone in lunar exploration, setting the stage for future endeavors in outer space. Here’s everything you need to know about this celestial event, from the landing time to where you can catch it live!

Landing Time and Mission Overview

Japan’s ispace Resilience moon lander is on a meticulous journey with its sights firmly set on touching down on the moon. The scheduled landing time is 3:24 p.m. EDT on June 5 (which translates to 4:24 a.m. JST on June 6 for those in Japan). This precise timeline allows Resilience to embark on its mission of redemption, following a previous, unsuccessful landing attempt in April 2023.

Unlike its predecessor, this mission follows a strategic low energy transfer path, which, although adding months to the timeline, ensures greater control and preparedness for landing.

Watch It Live from Anywhere!

You can be a part of this groundbreaking event as ispace is offering a global live stream event. The livestream will kick off at 2:10 p.m. EDT and run right through to the expected landing at 3:24 p.m. EDT. Viewers worldwide can tune in via ispace’s YouTube channel, choosing either the English or Japanese broadcast to witness history in real-time.

Where on the Moon?

Resilience will attempt to land in the Mare Frigoris in the moon’s northern hemisphere — a region known for its expansive basalt plains. While this is the primary landing spot, there are alternative sites ready in case adjustments need to be made due to changing conditions.

Mission Goals: Science Meets Culture

Upon a successful landing, Resilience will spend about two weeks conducting scientific experiments, fueled by solar energy. Key experiments aboard include:

  • Water Electrolyzer Experiment for generating oxygen and hydrogen from lunar water.
  • Algae-based Food Production Module to assess potential food resources on the moon.
  • Deep Space Radiation Probe monitoring environmental conditions during its stay.

In a captivating cultural twist, the Tenacious microrover will also deploy with “Moonhouse,” a symbolic artwork by Mikael Genberg, marrying science with art and marking a mission of both innovation and cultural representation.

Looking Forward

ispace’s Resilience mission represents not just scientific advancement but a narrative of perseverance and vision. It showcases how private companies are increasingly driving the frontier of space exploration, paving paths once dominated solely by government agencies. This venture not only sets the precedence for future missions launching from private entities but serves as a testament to human ingenuity and our relentless pursuit of the stars.

Join us in this celestial journey and witness the dawning of a new era in space exploration. Don’t miss out—tune in for all the action and see history being crafted, 240,000 miles away from Earth!