ispace's lunar lander, Resilience, crashed into the moon due to a malfunctioning laser range finder. The lander was descending rapidly when contact was lost, marking ispace's second failed lunar landing attempt in two years. The first failure was attributed to faulty software. Despite the setbacks, ispace plans to continue its lunar exploration program, with a third mission slated for 2027 in cooperation with NASA. The company will conduct further testing and incorporate external expertise into its accident review.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.