Japan’s space agency said Thursday that communication with its moon lander Omotenashi was lost after launching from the NASA center the previous day, and that it was working to stabilize its position.
NASA on Wednesday launched its unmanned spacecraft, Artemis 1, carrying the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s (JAXA’s) Omotenashi lander and Equuleus satellite.
JAXA said the two devices successfully separated from the U.S. spacecraft on the same day and confirmed the Equuleus was operating normally in space. But it could not establish communication with Omotenashi.
“We are therefore continuing operations to stabilize attitude, secure power, and establish communication,” it added.
JAXA earlier predicted a 60 percent chance of mission success. Omotenashi is the world’s smallest moon lander, measuring 11 centimeters in length, 24 centimeters in width, and 37 centimeters in height.
Meanwhile, the Artemis I mission marked the first flight for the combined Space Launch System rocket and Orion capsule, inaugurating NASA’s Artemis exploration program 50 years after the final Apollo moon mission.
About 90 minutes after launch, the rocket’s upper stage fired thrusters for a “trans-lunar injection” burn, propelling Orion out of Earth orbit on course for the moon.
The Artemis I mission signals a major change in direction for NASA’s post-Apollo human spaceflight program after decades focused on low-Earth orbit with space shuttles and the International Space Station.
Japan has an extensive space program, mainly focused on developing launchers and space probes. But the country doesn’t have a human flight program and has relied on the United States and Russia to carry its astronauts into space.
NASA said it sees JAXA as a “critical partner” on the International Space Station and the Artemis project.
