Space News reports that the Tokyo-based Japanese firm ispace has ordered two rideshare launch reservations on two SpaceX Falcon 9 launches for its 450 kg Hakuto-R orbiter and for its 1,400 kg Hakuto-R lander/rover missions in 2020 and 2021. Originally ispace took part under the title of Team Hakuto in the failed lunar X-prize competition to land a rover on the surface of the Moon. It was originally teamed with another firm called Team Indus which was going to cadge a ride with the Team Hakuto lander to the lunar surface via a launch on India’s PSLV. In the end Team Indus went its own way when the lander was delayed.
