Japan has successfully accomplished a “soft landing” on the Moon, becoming the fifth nation to achieve this feat. However, the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has reported a challenge with the craft’s solar cells not generating power.
The Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) mission, following in the footsteps of the United States, the Soviet Union, China, and India, marked Japan’s significant stride in lunar exploration. JAXA confirmed the SLIM’s successful lunar landing at 00:20 am on January 20, 2024 (Japan Time) and established communication post-landing.
Despite the achievement, the agency noted that the solar cells onboard SLIM are not producing power. As a result, data acquisition from the lunar surface has become the priority. JAXA official Hitoshi Kuninaka stated that the SLIM operates on onboard batteries, and the data collected during the landing is stored in the spacecraft. The team is currently focused on transmitting this data back to Earth to maximize scientific outcomes.
The SLIM mission forms part of a renewed global interest in lunar exploration, with several new projects launched in recent years. The Japanese craft, equipped with innovative technology including a shape-shifting mini-rover, was designed to land with remarkable precision within a target area of just 100 meters.
Japan’s success in landing on the Moon is a significant step to re-establish its reputation in space following previous lunar mission failures and rocket mishaps. It also mirrors the achievement of India’s cost-effective space program, which made history by landing an uncrewed craft near the Moon’s south pole in August.
