A Japanese startup is preparing for a crucial moment in space exploration - its Resilience lunar module is planning a soft landing between June 6 and 8. The mission follows the recent success of Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost, which became the second private spacecraft to land on the Moon, and the first to do so upright.

Ispace's Resilience lander blasted off in January aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, sharing the journey with Blue Ghost. While its American counterpart achieved its goal quickly, Resilience used a more gradual approach, performing a lunar orbit before settling into a low-energy transfer orbit.

This mission is ispace's second attempt to reach the lunar surface. In 2023, the original lander suffered a hard landing that rendered it unusable. However, the company has learned from its previous mistakes. 

"Compared to Mission 1, Mission 2 is progressing smoothly as expected," said ispace CEO Takeshi Hakamada, highlighting the lessons learned from their previous venture.

Unlike planets with atmospheres, the Moon's vacuum renders parachutes useless. Spacecraft must rely on meticulously controlled thrusters to slow their descent and navigate rugged terrain. Only five countries - the Soviet Union, the United States, China, India and Japan - have successfully landed on the Moon.

Now private companies are pushing the boundaries of lunar exploration, offering cost-effective alternatives to government-led missions. Last year, Intuitive Machines made history as the first private company to reach the lunar surface, albeit at an awkward angle. Despite the landing failure, its unmanned vehicle continued to operate and transmit valuable data.

While ispace awaits its historic milestone in June, other companies are not far behind. Intuitive Machines will make another attempt to land on the moon on March 6, sending its Athena lander to one of the southernmost lunar sites ever visited. Athena carries three rovers, an ice search probe and an innovative bouncing drone designed to explore hard-to-reach areas.

The renewed interest in lunar missions signals a new era in commercial space exploration. As more private companies enter the field, the dream of frequent and affordable trips to the Moon is becoming a reality. | BGNES