Private Japanese Company's First Lunar Landing Attempt Fails After Spacecraft Accelerates and Crashes

Japanese company ispace lost communication with its spacecraft moments before it was supposed to land on the moon.
The mission had apparently failed and the lander eventually crashed into the lunar surface after unexpectedly accelerating.
The spacecraft launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, in the US on a SpaceX rocket in December and had completed several mission objectives leading up to its landing attempt.
Only three countries have successfully touched down on the moon: Russia, the United States and China.
Two US companies, Astrobotic and Intuitive Machines, are scheduled to attempt moon landings later this year.