Japan's Resilience spacecraft enters lunar orbit

10-May-2025

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Japan’s private lunar lander, Resilience, has successfully entered lunar orbit, marking a major milestone for Tokyo-based ispace and the nation’s ambitions in space exploration.

Launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in January, Resilience carries the TENACIOUS micro rover-designed in Luxembourg-and a suite of scientific and cultural payloads from international partners.

The mission aims to demonstrate new technologies, collect lunar soil samples with the TENACIOUS rover, and deliver international payloads, including a memory disk from UNESCO and a miniature artwork.