Recently, ispace Inc, a Japanese space startup, embarked on an unprecedented journey to the moon. The company launched its private lander M1, marking a historic moment in Japan’s lunar exploration. This lunar mission, labelled as HAKUTO-R, was initiated from the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
HAKUTO-R stands out as the first of its kind undertaken by a private company, setting a precedent for future space exploration endeavours by private entities, not only in Japan but globally.
Key Components of the HAKUTO-R Mission
The name HAKUTO-R hails from the Japanese folklore where a white rabbit allegedly inhabits the moon. The lunar lander M1 has a crucial task at hand – it has to deploy two robotic rovers. These include two-wheeled, orange-sized devices developed by Japan’s JAXA space agency, and a four-wheeled rover named Explorer Rashid, crafted by the UAE in honour of their royal family patriarch.
If rover Rashid lands successfully, it will be a significant feat for the Arab world by marking their first moon mission, a milestone achieved only by the US, Russia, and China to date. The M1 lander will also transport an experimental solid-state battery developed by NGK Spark Plug Co, a renowned Japanese spark plug company.
Features and Objective of the Mission
The M1 lander is designed to utilize minimum fuel. This strategic approach aims to save costs as well as provide extra space for cargo. It takes a gradual, energy-efficient path to the moon, covering a distance of approximately 1.6 million km (one million miles) from Earth before returning to make a planned landing by the end of April.
The HAKUTO-R mission aspires to find water deposits on the moon. It will ideally touch down in the Atlas Crater located on the Moon’s near side, with a diameter of over 87km (54 miles) and a depth slightly over 2km (1.2 miles).
Implications for Japan-US Space Cooperation
If successful, HAKUTO-R would mark a significant advancement in space cooperation between Japan and the US. This comes at a crucial time when China is emerging as a strong competitor in space exploration, while access to Russian rockets has been cut off due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Japan has already inked a contract with NASA, committing to transport payloads to the Moon from 2025 onward. The country also aims to establish a permanently staffed lunar colony by 2040.
Lunar Missions Led by Other Countries
Several countries worldwide have initiated their own lunar missions. India has embarked on Chandrayaan 1, Chandrayaan-2, and Chandrayaan-3. The UAE has also launched a Moon Mission. The United States has numerous projects underway including NASA’s Artemis Mission and Lunar Evacuation System Assembly. China too is making strides with its Chang’e-5 Mission.
The HAKUTO-R mission marks a pivotal moment in lunar exploration not only for Japan but for the global community.