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Tokyo-based ispace has rebounded from its lunar crash in April with a fresh mission and a compact rover.
In the unpredictable world of space exploration, setbacks are part of the journey. Tokyo's private space tech firm, ispace, faced a setback when its Hakuto-R Mission 1 crashed on the Moon in April. Undeterred, the company has swiftly announced its second mission.
On November 16, ispace revealed the final design of its "micro rover," a key component of Mission 2 bound for the lunar surface. Founder and CEO Takeshi Hakamada expressed satisfaction, stating, "Continuous mission operations are essential for lunar transportation and data services. I am proud of our team's progress in the short time since completing Mission 1."
The micro rover for Mission 2 measures 26 centimeters in height, 31.5 centimeters in width, and 54 centimeters in length, weighing approximately five kilograms. Stored at the lander's payload bay, it will use a specialized deployment mechanism for a safe landing on the Moon after the lander touches down.
Crafted with a frame of lightweight carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics, the rover is designed to endure the challenges of rocket launches, vibrations during transit, and the lunar landing.
Mission 2 adopts the same overall design as the Series 1 lander used in Hakuto-R Mission 1, with improvements based on the analysis of flight data from the previous mission's mishap in April. ispace remains dedicated to pushing the boundaries of space exploration with resilience and innovation.
