HAKUTO-R lunar mission results announced, here’s what happened

HAKUTO-R lunar mission results announced, here’s what happened

Japanese lunar exploration company, ispace reviewed and completed the flight data analysis from its HAKUTO-R Mission 1 landing sequence on April 26.

The flight data was obtained by operations specialists at ispace’s Mission Control Center in Nihonbashi, Tokyo.

The analysis revealed that the lander, which was carrying UAE’s Rashid rover, fully completed the entire planned deceleration process, slowing to the target speed of less than 1 m/s in a vertical position at an altitude of approximately 5 kilometres above the lunar surface.

Although the lander did not complete a soft landing, the cause has been identified and improvements are being incorporated into Mission 2 and Mission 3, ispace said in a statement.

“Mission 1 demonstrated a great deal of technical reliability, as our lander reached the lunar surface just prior to landing. Now, we have been able to identify the issue during the landing and have a very clear picture of how to improve our future missions.” (1/2) pic.twitter.com/tfv0iLI1ee — ispace (@ispace_inc) May 26, 2023

HAKUTO-R lander believed to have “free-fallen” to the Moon

On April 26, 2023, at 00:40 Japan Standard Time, the lander began the descent sequence from an altitude of around 100 kilometres above the Moon’s surface. At the end of the planned