The Hakuto-R lander, made by Japanese firm ispace, could be the first private mission to land on the moon after it launches on 30 November - provided it isn't beaten by competitors taking a more direct route through space.
Hakuto-R’s path to the moon is a circuitous one, designed to require less fuel so the spacecraft can fit more scientific payloads aboard. Rather than flying straight there, it will use the gravity of Earth and the sun to give it an extra push during its four-month voyage. The 2-metre-tall craft will weigh about 1000 kilograms when it launches, but most of that mass is propellant that will be burned on the way, and the lander will have a mass of only 340 kilograms by the time it touches down.
Once it arrives at the moon, it will spend about two weeks in orbit, with each circle around the moon taking it closer to the surface. Finally, if all goes well, it will land softly in an area called Atlas crater.on the moon, though: there are two other contenders, both from the US.
“We don’t care very much about who is going to land first,” says Hakamada. “Our vision is to create an economically viable lunar ecosystem – I don’t think it’s possible to do that with only one company, so we want several companies to do business there.” The company has two more lunar missions already in development, with the goal of maintaining momentum with launches in 2024 and 2025.
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