Awkward Landing: Japan’s Smart Lander SLIM Lands Upside Down on Moon’s Surface
In a surprising turn of events, Japan’s Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) has landed on the lunar surface, but unfortunately, it’s upside down. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) admitted that an abnormality in the main engine affected the landing attitude of the spacecraft, leading to this unfortunate outcome. The image captured by SLIM’s companion robot, SORA-Q, shows the tragic scene of the lander stuck in an inverted position.
The landing itself marked a significant milestone for Japan, making it the fifth country in the world to successfully land a spacecraft on the Moon. However, problems arose soon after touchdown. SLIM encountered difficulties generating power due to its blocked solar panels, which ultimately led to its shutdown just three hours later. Regrettably, the lander lacks the capability to right itself, leaving it stranded on the lunar surface with no means to power back on.
Despite these setbacks, JAXA remains optimistic about the future. In a recent statement, they expressed hope that if sunlight hits the Moon from the west, there is a possibility of power generation and they are actively preparing for restoration. This glimmer of hope suggests that SLIM may have a chance to recover and fulfill its mission objectives.
To transmit the image captured by SORA-Q back to Earth, the robot had to send the data to another robot named LEV-1. SLIM successfully deployed LEV-1 during landing, and this secondary robot has the ability to independently contact mission control. This communication link between the two robots represents a significant achievement in inter-robot communication and fully autonomous operations.
Despite its awkward landing position, SLIM managed to observe its surroundings, revealing a desolate and rocky area on the lunar surface. JAXA considers this mission a triumph, emphasizing the groundbreaking achievements of LEV-1’s leaping movements, inter-robot communication between LEV-1 and SORA-Q, and the overall autonomous operations. The agency believes that this mission serves as a valuable technology demonstration for future lunar explorations, and the knowledge and experience gained will be applied in upcoming missions.
JAXA’s determination to bring SLIM back to life showcases their commitment to pushing the boundaries of space exploration. While the current situation may seem disappointing, the agency’s efforts to restore power to the lander demonstrate their resilience and dedication to advancing lunar exploration. As we eagerly await updates on SLIM’s revival, it is clear that Japan’s mission to the Moon has left an indelible mark on the future of space exploration.
