TOKYO, Japan — Japan, whose unmanned "sniper" probe made a lunar touchdown on Saturday, is one of many countries and private companies launching new missions to the Moon. NASA says commercial tie-ups give it "more shots on goal" although its Peregrine lunar lander, made by US company Astrobotic, failed when it lost fuel after take-off. In October, the country sent a fresh team to its Tiangong space station in the latest crewed mission for the fast-growing space program. JapanJapanese company ispace attempted a lunar landing in April last year but crashed, becoming the third private entity to have failed in the endeavor. RELATED: Japan's 'Moon Sniper' attempts historic lunar landing

Source: Philippine Star January 21, 2024 10:56 UTC