On Saturday, Japan’s space agency, JAXA, achieved a historic milestone when it successfully landed on the moon’s surface, making Japan the fifth country to do so. The Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) landed on the lunar surface, but shortly after, JAXA confirmed that the lander was experiencing issues with its solar cells, prompting the team to shut down the lander to preserve its remaining battery life.
The SLIM lander’s journey was not without its challenges, and it appears that the spacecraft experienced an issue with one of its main engines during its final descent, which led to an unstable touchdown and the lander landing upside down on the lunar surface. However, despite the setback, JAXA confirmed that the spacecraft had still managed to reach the moon’s surface at a point approximately 180 feet east of the original target landing site.
In a statement, JAXA said that the data acquired before SLIM’s shutdown confirmed that the lander had achieved a landing accuracy of within 32.8 feet, possibly even 9.8 feet. This is a remarkable achievement, given that the mission’s main goal was to demonstrate pinpoint landing technology that aims for an accuracy of within 328 feet. The SLIM lander’s technology is significantly more accurate than previous missions, which aimed for miles-wide landing zones.
The SLIM lander’s ability to land with such precision is crucial for future lunar missions, particularly those that aim to explore rougher terrain and areas that are thought to contain deposits of water ice. Water ice is a valuable resource that could one day be converted to fuel for rocket launches from the lunar surface to Mars and beyond.
Japan Successfully Lands on the Moon, Achieves Historic Milestone
In a positive development, JAXA revealed that the spacecraft’s solar cells are facing west, which suggests a possibility of power generation and recovery of the lander when the sun sets in that direction in the coming days. This news provides glimmer of hope for the mission team, and it is possible that the lander could be reactivated and continue its mission.
The SLIM lander’s mission has been significant not only for Japan but also for the global space community. It demonstrates the country’s capabilities in space technology and its commitment to exploring the moon and beyond. The mission has also provided valuable insights into the moon’s surface and its composition, which will be crucial for future lunar missions.
Japan’s successful landing on the moon is a significant achievement, and the SLIM lander’s precision landing technology has far-reaching implications for future lunar missions. The mission’s challenges and setbacks have been significant, but the possibility of recovering the lander and continuing its mission has provided a glimmer of hope for the mission team. Japan’s achievement is a testament to its capabilities in space technology and its commitment to exploring the moon and beyond.
