A Japanese company attempted to land its own spacecraft on the moon early Wednesday morning, but its fate remains unknown as flight controllers lost contact with it shortly before planned landing.
Flight controllers stared at their screens in Tokyo, emotionless, as minutes passed with still no from from the landing craft.
One webcast commentator urged people to be patient, as those in control investigate what may have happened.
“Everyone please give we a few minutes to confirm,” he urged.
If successful, the company ispace will be the first private enterprise to land on the moon.
Only three governments have successfully landed on the moon: Russia, the United States, and China. The spacecraft carried a mini lunar rover for the United Arab Emirates and a toy-like robot from Japan designed to roll in lunar dust. There are also private customer items on board.
Tokyo-based ispace put its own spacecraft into orbit around the moon a month ago. On Tuesday, the flight controller will direct the plane, named Hakuto, Japanese for white rabbit, to land from an altitude of 60 miles (100 km) and land.
The 7-foot lander is carrying a mini lunar rover for the United Arab Emirates and a toy-like robot from Japan designed to roll in lunar dust.
Hakuto made a long, detour to the moon after takeoff in December, sending back pictures of Earth along the way.
Only three governments have successfully landed on the moon: Russia, the United States, and China. An Israeli nonprofit attempted to land on the moon in 2019, but their spacecraft was destroyed on impact.
