Laser Rangefinder Issues Cited in Second Ispace Lunar Lander Crash
Japanese company ispace reports that its second lunar lander mission failed due to problems with a laser rangefinder responsible for measuring altitude during descent. During a briefing on June 23, executives explained that the lander's laser rangefinder malfunctioned, providing delayed altitude data, which caused the spacecraft to descend faster than planned.
The lander, Resilience, was supposed to trigger engine burns at three kilometers altitude, but the first measurement was only received below 900 meters, leading to a rapid and uncontrolled descent at speeds of up to 66 m/s. NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter images show the crash site about 282 meters south and 236 meters east of the target, with a crater 16 meters across. I
space’s leadership indicated that the hardware likely degraded in space, potentially due to surface conditions, laser power issues, or environmental effects, but the exact cause remains undetermined.
The company is taking steps to improve sensor testing and to consider alternative or supplementary sensors like lidar and cameras for future missions. Despite this setback, the next missions are scheduled for 2027, with efforts underway to prevent recurrence and regain stakeholder trust.
