The National Astronomical Research Institute page posted that on January 25, 2022, ispace, a private space technology company in Japan. The first two lunar probes under the M1 mission’s Hakuto-R program will be launched as early as late 2022, while the M2 mission’s spacecraft has been postponed. Sent in the year 2024
ispace announced that 2022 is a key moment for the company in preparation for the M1 mission, with the M1 mission “Series 1” lander in the process of assembly. Nearly finished craft to meet the deadline for launching the spacecraft within the last three months of this year
The steps for preparing the M1 mission Series 1 ships include several steps, such as merging the upper and lower parts together. and the installation of equipment on the vehicle, including heat spreaders multilayer thermal insulation solar panel equipment for landing Mechanism of launching a small survey vehicle as well as baggage from other organizations accompanying
When the vehicle is assembled will bring the craft to be tested and transported to the United States To install the spacecraft on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket in this mission, when the spacecraft lands, it will serve to send various loads onto the lunar surface. including the United Arab Emirates’ Rashid.
The M2 mission will use the same lander as the M1 mission, the Series 1 spacecraft. The difference is that the mission lander will carry a small probe developed by the company. Also, ispace is currently under development to make the craft as lightweight and small as possible. It will then be launched into space with the Falcon 9 rocket as well.
The next generation of landing craft is the larger and more complex “Series 2” spacecraft. Can carry 500 kg of baggage to be released onto the lunar surface. It will be used in the M3 mission, however the M3 mission does not yet have a specific schedule. Due to the scheduled changes of the M2 missions there may be delays.
The lander was developed by General Atomics and US technology company Draper. And the landing craft was initially reviewed by ispace in June 2021, designed with multiple cargo compartments. to make the mission flexible The mission can be adapted to accommodate cargo from the government, the private sector and scientific organizations to the moon.
ispace also hopes its lander will be the first private lunar lander. that can survive the cold night on the moon And has the potential to be used to land on the lunar surface in many areas. whether the surface is facing the earth side facing away from the world or the lunar pole
meanwhile Space agencies and space technology companies in the United States and other nations are interested in the polar regions of the moon. For the landing site of the Artemis program to bring humans back to explore the lunar surface in 2025, as the area is constantly in shadow. And there is a lot of ice at the bottom of the craters. It could be consumed and used as a fuel source for future lunar exploration missions.
In addition, ispace also aims to The Series 2 lander will join NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Service, or CLPS, a program to send scientific equipment and payloads to the moon. to support the Artemis project in the future