The latest H2-A rocket carries a lightweight lander and will attempt to land on the moon early next year © Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency/AFP via Getty Images
Japan’s moon-bound H2-A rocket was launched Thursday morning in Japan’s latest attempt to land on the moon.
If successful, Japan will become the fifth country to successfully land on the moon, following India’s successful landing on the moon last month.
The launch of the rocket, manufactured and operated by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, had been postponed multiple times due to weather conditions. It carries the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s lightweight lander and is scheduled to attempt a moon landing early next year.
Japan’s H3 rocket, the newest and largest in three decades, failed to launch in March. Tokyo startup ispace failed in its first commercial moon landing mission in April.