[X] My Assistant

[Phil Stooke]

ispace (they don't capitalize the 'i') is a Japanese company which was associated with the old Google Lunar X Prize team Hakuto, which evolved from the original White Label Space GLXP team. It raised substantial funding and carried on after the demise of GLXP. The useful part of their website is:

https://ispace-inc.com/project/

They have a multi-mission project called HAKUTO-R (R for 'reboot', a revival of the GLXP team) and the first lander is built, tested and about to be shipped to Florida for a SpaceX launch in mid-November. It carries a rover called Rashid from the UAE and contributions from Canada as well as a Japanese rover. See this press release:

https://ispace-inc.com/news/?p=2370


ispace's US subsidiary is associated with the Draper CLPS mission to Schrodinger basin, recently awarded, which will utilize a new lander from ispace larger than the Mission 1 lander.

The landing site was said to be in Lacus Somniorum north of Mare Serenitatis, but recent reports say it has moved to Atlas crater nearby - whether in or near the crater I don't know.

Launch is set for mid-November.

[marsbug]

"We have to assume that we could not complete the landing on the lunar surface," says Takeshi Hakamada, founder & CEO of ispace.

Ground teams had data from the lander during its descent, but lost the signal before landing.

"We will keep going," he said.

From the spacenews feed.