Hakuto says it will keep working to reach Moon

Jan 25, 2018 | News On Japan

Jan 25, 2018 (NHK) - A Japanese team competing in an international lunar probe contest says it will keep working to become Japan's first team to reach the Moon, separate from the event.

The team, called Hakuto, is taking part in the contest to achieve the world's first private-sector lunar mission.

But the US foundation that organized the contest said on Tuesday that it is likely to end without a winner, as none of the participating teams will be able to meet the event's March 31st deadline.

Hakuto leader Takeshi Hakamada said at a news conference on Wednesday that it is impossible for the team to send its rover to the Moon by the deadline.

He said the team had been negotiating an extension of the deadline with the contest's organizers, to no avail. He called the result very regrettable, and apologized to the team's supporters.

Hakuto is made up of members of space industry startups and university researchers. It had planned to send its rover by piggybacking on a rocket used by a rival team from India.

But Hakuto was informed by the Indian team this month that no rocket could be made available by the deadline.

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