Japan’s ispace is set to make history tonight with its Resilience lunar lander, aiming for a challenging touchdown in the Moon’s far north.

The spacecraft will attempt a brave landing at a site called Mare Frigoris, or the “Sea of Cold.”

The landing attempt is scheduled for June 6 at 12:47 am IST, and will be broadcast live, marking a crucial moment for private space exploration after ispace’s first attempt ended in failure last year.

What is Mare Frigoris?

Mare Frigoris is a vast, dark basaltic plain in the Moon’s northern hemisphere, stretching over 1,400 kilometers in diameter.

Its Latin name translates to “Sea of Cold,” reflecting its location in the Moon’s far north, just above the prominent Mare Imbrium and east of Mare Serenitatis.

The region is geologically significant, with surface materials dating back to different lunar epochs, making it a target of interest for scientific study.

Why Land in the Sea of Cold?

The decision to target Mare Frigoris is strategic. Unlike the rugged Atlas crater, where ispace’s first lander crashed, Mare Frigoris offers a flatter, more navigable terrain, which increases the chances of a safe landing.

According to ispace, the site was chosen for its “flexibility,” providing a broad, relatively smooth area that is less risky for touchdown.

Additionally, the location offers extended periods of sunlight and uninterrupted communication with Earth—two critical factors for the lander’s operations and the success of its scientific payloads.

Landing in Mare Frigoris also represents a milestone in lunar exploration, as it would be the most northerly landing ever attempted on the Moon.

This opens new possibilities for studying the Moon’s geology and environment in regions that have rarely been explored, potentially providing insights into the Moon’s history and resources.

Mission Objectives

On board Resilience are several scientific instruments, including a water electrolyser to test hydrogen and oxygen production, a deep space radiation probe, and a module for algae-based food production experiments.

The mission’s success would not only mark a redemption for ispace but also establish Japan as a leader in private lunar exploration.

If successful, it will demonstrate the growing capabilities of private companies in deep space and expand humanity’s reach into the unexplored frontiers of the lunar north.