Japan Lands Mooncraft ‘SLIM’ in Quest for Lunar Exploration Advancements
The SLIM made its lunar landing at approximately 12:20 a.m. (1520 GMT Friday) and successfully re-established communication with Earth.
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Japan marked its achievement as the fifth country to successfully land SLIM on the moon on Saturday.
However, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) reported that the spacecraft, known as the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM), was not generating solar power as intended.
The mission aimed to demonstrate “precision” landing technology and revitalize Japan’s space program, which has faced setbacks.
The SLIM made its lunar landing at approximately 12:20 a.m. (1520 GMT Friday) and successfully re-established communication with Earth.
Unfortunately, the solar panels designed to generate electricity appeared to be facing the wrong angle, leaving the spacecraft dependent on its battery for operation.
Hitoshi Kuninaka, the head of JAXA’s space lab, stated during a press conference, “SLIM is now operating only on its battery, and we are prioritizing the transfer of its data onto Earth.”
Referred to as the “moon sniper,” SLIM aimed to achieve a precision landing within 100 meters (328 feet) of its target, a remarkable improvement over the conventional accuracy of several kilometers.
JAXA views this technology as a crucial tool for future exploration of the moon’s hilly poles, which are considered potential sources of oxygen, fuel, and water.
The verification of SLIM’s high-precision landing goals is expected to take up to a month, according to JAXA.
Japan’s increasing interest in space exploration aligns with its desire to play a more significant role in the field, including partnerships with the United States to counterbalance China.
Japan is also home to various private-sector space startups, and JAXA aims to send an astronaut to the moon as part of NASA’s Artemis program in the coming years.
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