Mysterious Moon Lander Goes Ghost on First Date with Tokyo Firm In an unusual case of spatial cold shoulder, a Japanese spacecraft felt the sharp sting of rejection today as it was seemingly ghosted by a moon lander at the final stage of their rendezvous. The Tokyo controllers initiated their first date with the lander early Wednesday and were looking forward to a close encounter with the moon, following months of exchanging light waves and data. Although things began well, with both parties seeming amicable, the mood took a turn for the worse when the lander fell silent just before introduction to the shiny object of its desire. Desperate to understand the reason behind the lander's change of heart, the confused team in Tokyo continued to scrutinize their screens with blank expressions, hope fading as the minutes ticked by. Not wanting to be seen as pushy, an optimistic webcast commentator urged everyone to adopt a Zen-like patience whilst the team, determined to cast a wide net for their love-stricken lander, launched an investigation into the depth of their loss. The lander's abrupt silent treatment occured as it descended the final 33 feet (10 meters) to the moment of launch, leaving hundreds to ponder whether they have been the victims of a universal practical joke or if their moon rover had decided to quit flirting with the moon in favor of flying far away toward someone more planet-like. Needless to say, the communication breakdown has left the Japanese company forlorn and reconsidering its future in long-distance relationships. Will it join forces with NASA for a rebound mission, or become a hermit and content itself with observing the world from upon high? Only time will tell. Until then, the public and the controllers must continue to hold out hope that their lander may yet decide to call back and initiate contact from beyond the stars.