Japan’s “Moon Sniper” mission blasted off on Thursday as the country’s space programme looks to bounce back from recent mishaps, weeks after India’s historic lunar triumph.
Only the United States, Russia, China and, as of last month India have successfully landed a probe on the Moon, with two failed Japanese missions — one public and one private.
Watched by 35,000 people online, the H-IIA rocket lifted off early on Thursday from the southern island of Tanegashima carrying the lander, which is expected to touch down on the lunar surface in early 2024.
