Japan's ispace bets on H3 rocket instead of SpaceX's Falcon 9 for moon landing

Aerospace & Defense IndustriesStartup pins hopes on domestic launcher for 2028 missionThe mission will be ispace's first to use a Japan-made launch vehicle. © KyodoYUIYA SHIBATA and AMI YAMADAJuly 30, 2026 02:50 JSTTOKYO -- Japan's ispace will use the country's H3 heavy-lift rocket for a 2028 lunar lander launch, the s

Trevor Mahlmann / Firefly Aerospace In the early hours of August 5 (UTC), an abandoned SpaceX rocket stage is expected to slam into the Moon at around 8,700 kilometres per hour. Launched in January 2025, the rocket sent two commercial lunar landers toward Earth’s nearest neighbour. With its work done, the rocket lacke