TOKYO. Japan is set to make history with the world’s first “pinpoint landing” on the moon, scheduled for early Saturday, marking a significant stride in the renewed global interest in lunar exploration that traces its roots back to the Cold War-era space race between the United States and the Soviet Union.
Japan’s ambitious attempt to land its spacecraft precisely follows a setback in April when another Japanese company’s lunar landing mission ended in failure. The successful execution of this mission would elevate Japan into an exclusive group currently occupied by only the United States, the Soviet Union, India, and China, bringing international scientific recognition, diplomatic acclaim, and potential domestic political benefits.
United States:
NASA has plans to send astronauts around the moon next year and aims for a lunar landing in 2026. However, this week, Astrobotic Technology, a U.S. company, faced a setback as its lunar lander, Peregrine, developed a fuel leak, forcing an abandonment of the mission. Despite such challenges, NASA continues to work on commercializing lunar deliveries by private entities, leveraging the advantages of substantial financial resources and well-established supply chains.
India:
India achieved a significant milestone last year by becoming the first country to land a spacecraft near the moon’s south pole. The success, valued at $75 million, marked a turnaround from a 2019 lunar lander crash due to a software glitch. This triumph has not only sparked national jubilation but is also viewed as a crucial step toward India’s planned manned lunar mission. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government sees success in space endeavors as a key element in boosting its popularity, especially ahead of a crucial general election this year.
China:
China has been a major player in lunar exploration, landing on the moon in 2013 and launching a crewed space station last year. With plans to put astronauts on the moon before the end of the decade, China’s space ambitions are closely tied to its rivalry with the United States. China’s exclusion from the International Space Station led to the creation of its own space station. The competition and potential cooperation between China and the U.S. on the lunar surface raise questions about the future of lunar exploration.
Russia:
Russia faced a setback last year with the failure of its Luna-25 mission to land on the moon, coincidentally in the same area where India succeeded. Russian scientists attributed the failure to the long hiatus in lunar missions and a loss of space expertise since the Soviet era. Despite plans for another moon mission in 2027, Russia’s role in the global space launch market has diminished, impacted by failures and the rise of private companies like SpaceX.
Japan’s imminent lunar landing adds another chapter to the global space race, as nations vie for supremacy in scientific achievements and strategic positioning in an evolving space landscape.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
