Japanese space startup Ispace’s lunar lander launched from Kennedy Space Centre
The Tokyo-based startup previously attempted a moon landing in the spring of 2023, only to fail. Wednesday’s launch is part of its second attempt.
Yusuke Tomiyama
Japan, US sign deal to send 2 Japanese astronauts to the moon
This is the first time the US has agreed to fly non-US astronauts to the moon, making Japan only the second nation to have an astronaut land on the lunar surface.
Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata back from space after an ISS mission
Wakata and his crewmates from the United States and Russia had been on the ISS for an extended stay since October. This was Wakata’s fourth time on the space station.