Japan’s Moon Sniper Mission Faces Challenges After Landing on Lunar Surface
The Moon Sniper mission, officially known as the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM), has encountered unexpected challenges after successfully landing on the lunar surface. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) revealed that during the descent, an “anomaly” occurred, causing the vehicle to land with its solar panels facing the wrong direction. As a result, the spacecraft is operating on limited battery power.
JAXA officials are now in a wait-and-see mode, hoping that the changing angle of the sun will restore power to the vehicle and allow the mission to continue. The primary objective of the Moon Sniper mission is to collect unprecedented information about a region on the moon called the Sea of Nectar.
The spacecraft landed near a crater called Shioli, which is located about 200 miles south of the Sea of Tranquility. This region is significant because it is where Apollo 11 first landed humans on the moon in 1969. The proximity to a larger crater called Theophilus, which is more than 60 miles across, makes Shioli an interesting area for exploration.
Dr. Gordon Osinski, a professor of planetary geology at Western University in Ontario, expressed excitement about the mission’s choice of landing site. He explained that craters like Shioli provide a window into what lies beneath the surface of a planetary body. The rocks ejected by Theophilus crater, which Shioli stands on, offer researchers an opportunity to study lunar rock without the need for drilling. The presence of olivine, a mineral that likely originates from the moon’s mantle, further adds to the scientific interest of this site.
The Moon Sniper mission also benefits from previous data collected by NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. Photographs of Shioli taken by the orbiter revealed that the crater is lighter in color compared to its surroundings. This is because the radiation and micrometeorites that constantly bombard the moon’s surface have not had enough time to darken it. Sara Russell, a professor of planetary sciences, explained that studying these rare rock samples provides valuable insights into the geological history of the moon.
The Moon Sniper spacecraft has already captured low-resolution images of its surroundings and given nicknames to some of the rocks in the pictures. If the lander regains power, more images will be taken to further explore the area.
One remarkable aspect of the Moon Sniper mission is its pinpoint accuracy in landing. The spacecraft targeted an area spanning just 328 feet for touchdown, and it landed only 180 feet shy of its target. This achievement demonstrates the technology’s capability to land in small landing circles, which could pave the way for future missions to different planets.
The Moon Sniper’s landing site is close to where Apollo 16 touched down in 1972. The Apollo mission collected a significant amount of rock and soil samples, providing valuable data for scientists. The Moon Sniper mission aims to gather as much data as possible from diverse geographic locations to enhance our understanding of the moon’s geological history.
The Sea of Nectar, the largest lunar feature near Shioli, is one of the oldest basins on the near side of the moon. It was formed approximately 3.9 billion years ago when the moon’s surface was created. The Sea of Nectar is smaller than its neighbor, the Sea of Tranquility, which was chosen as the landing site for Apollo 11 due to its flatness and safety. Smooth areas are typically preferred for landing sites, even though they may be less scientifically interesting.
Looking ahead, future missions, including NASA’s Artemis mission, will target the moon’s south polar region. This area is geologically intriguing and rich in volatiles such as water ice, frozen carbon dioxide, and ammonia. Finding a substantial source of water ice in this region could revolutionize lunar exploration. Water can be used for drinking, extracting oxygen, and obtaining hydrogen for rocket fuel. It also reduces costs as launching water from Earth is expensive due to its weight.
The Moon Sniper mission, despite its challenges, holds great potential for advancing our understanding of the moon’s geology and history. By exploring different regions and collecting diverse samples, scientists hope to uncover valuable insights about the moon’s formation and its relationship to Earth. As we continue to explore the moon, it serves as a remarkable laboratory for studying planetary bodies and conducting experiments in the sky.