Moon's New Scar: A Hard Lesson in Lunar Landing

The Moon got a new mark on June 11, 2025. This wasn't a natural feature, but a dark smudge left by a spacecraft crash. The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) snapped pictures of the aftermath. This wasn't just any spacecraft, but the RESILIENCE lander, part of a Japanese mission aiming to establish a commercial foothold on the Moon. The lander, launched in January 2025, had a rough landing in Mare Frigoris, a volcanic plain on the Moon's surface. This was ispace's second failed attempt at a soft lunar touchdown. The LRO's images showed a dark patch with a lighter ring around it. This was caused by lunar regolith, the Moon's fine dust and rocks, being thrown out and scouring the area. The pattern suggested a high-speed collision. These images didn't just confirm the lander's fate, but also gave insights into how impacts affect airless bodies like the Moon. The LRO, launched in 2009, has been a key player in lunar science. It carries seven instruments, including the LROC, which has changed how we observe the Moon. It has recorded everything from Apollo landing sites to failed lander impacts, making it crucial for lunar mission planning. The crash happened in Mare Frigoris, a flat area north of the Moon's equator. This region is geologically active, with wrinkle ridges caused by the Moon's cooling and contraction. A fresh impact here adds a new factor for scientific modeling. The dark spot and ejected regolith will likely stay visible for decades, serving as both a warning and a research target. This crash was a setback for ispace, marking their second consecutive failed lunar landing. However, each attempt provides valuable data for future missions. As NASA partners with private companies, incidents like this will happen more often, along with the learning opportunities they bring.