A private lunar lander from Japan descended toward a touchdown on the moon Friday, but flight controllers lost contact with the spacecraft and were unsure of its fate. The Tokyo-based company ispace said its lander dropped out of lunar orbit as planned. But there was no immediate word on the outcome, following the hourlong descent.

The government has been keen to promote Japan's roles in the Artemis program, signing an agreement with NASA last year to include two Japanese astronauts and a Toyota-built rover