Japan Space Ambitions Dealt Blow After Ispace Moon Landing Fails

Tokyo-based ispace Inc.’s second lunar lander attempt failed after it lost contact, a blow to Japan’s burgeoning commercial space industry.

Ispace’s Resilience lander did not decelerate in time, and it was highly likely it made a hard landing on the moon, according to executives. The company’s stock price plunged 29%, falling by their daily limit in Tokyo Friday. Ispace’s value tumbled to roughly half the high of $1 billion it reached last month.