Watch: Resilience lander flies 100 km above the Moon ahead of landing
Japanese company ispace's Resilience Lander is in the final phase of preparing to land on the surface of the Moon.The spacecraft will attempt to land on Moon's Mare Frigoris region also known as the 'Sea of Cold.' This will mark the culmination of over two months of the spacecraft's journey into space.Launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral on January 15, 2025, Resilience has travelled over one million kilometers, utilising a low-energy transfer orbit that included a lunar flyby and a series of complex deep-space manoeuvres.advertisement
ispace shared a video of the spacecraft flying just 100 kilometres above the Moon as the Mission Control preps for inviting the landing sequence of the spacecraft on June 6. The company said that RESILIENCE remains in a circular orbit as landing day approaches.The video was captured from lunar orbit by the camera mounted on top of the lander, streaming a peek at the landing legs and the cover that protects the Tenacious micro rover as they soar over the Moon's surface.The spacecraft was travelling at a staggering speed of 5,800 kilometres per hour above the Moon.Resilience stands 2.3 meters tall and weighs 340 kilograms, carrying a suite of scientific payloads.These include a water electrolyzer experiment, an algae-based food production module, a deep space radiation monitor, and the Tenacious micro rover designed for in situ resource utilization demonstrations. The mission aims to advance sustainable lunar exploration and open new avenues for commercial activity on the Moon.Launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on January 15, 2025, Resilience was successfully deployed and began its months-long voyage using a low-energy transfer orbit—a fuel-efficient trajectory that included a lunar flyby and a series of complex deep-space manoeuvres.Trending Reel
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