They founded the company ispace and intend to launch a private space mission to the moon. But not just a mission, they are going to build a whole colony called “Moon Valley”, which is not built by astronauts, but by robots. And Japanese scientists do not lose time: the first flight to the moon is planned for them by the end of 2019, and the second – as early as 2020.
Lunokhod, created by the company now, weighs only about 3.5 kg and has the shape of a metal beetle, it is designed to carry tools that customers might need. It is also designed to extract valuable resources that will later be used to build a city on the Moon.
The team claimed to Lunar X Prize from Google, but last January Google dissolved this fund, as no company could cope with the deadlines set by the company. However, ispace coped and themselves, having received $ 90 million as the first round of funding (for example, SpaceX managed to extract only $ 61 million when launched in 2002).
The company is optimistic enough about the future and is going to stick to its schedule. Let’s see what happens with them.
Lunokhod, created by the company now, weighs only about 3.5 kg and has the shape of a metal beetle, it is designed to carry tools that customers might need. It is also designed to extract valuable resources that will later be used to build a city on the Moon.
The team claimed to Lunar X Prize from Google, but last January Google dissolved this fund, as no company could cope with the deadlines set by the company. However, ispace coped and themselves, having received $ 90 million as the first round of funding (for example, SpaceX managed to extract only $ 61 million when launched in 2002).
The company is optimistic enough about the future and is going to stick to its schedule. Let’s see what happens with them.