Japanese Lunar Lander Touches Down on Moon, Axiom Space Launches Private Mission: Weekly Space News Update
For space enthusiasts, this week has been an exciting one, filled with significant developments and achievements. From a Japanese lunar lander touching down on the moon to a private mission launched by Axiom Space, the space industry continues to push boundaries and explore new frontiers.
Japanese Lunar Lander – SLIM
The story of the week undoubtedly revolves around the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM), the Japanese lunar lander that successfully touched down on the moon on Friday. This remarkable feat makes Japan the fifth country to achieve a lunar landing, joining the ranks of the United States, China, Russia, and India.
The Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) confirmed that they had received telemetry data from SLIM just after 10:20 AM EST, marking a significant milestone for Japan’s space exploration efforts. However, not everything went according to plan. JAXA later revealed that the lander’s solar cells are not currently generating electricity, which could greatly reduce the mission’s lifetime. JAXA officials mentioned that there is a small chance the solar cells could charge as the angle of the sun changes, but it depends on identifying the cause of the issue.
Despite this setback, the mission achieved a substantial portion of its goal, which was to demonstrate a soft lunar landing using optical navigation technology. This innovative technology enables “pinpoint” landings with an accuracy of around 100 meters, a significant improvement compared to previous landings that had accuracies measured in kilometers.
Axiom Space Private Mission
In another groundbreaking development, Axiom Space launched its third mission in partnership with SpaceX. What makes this launch particularly noteworthy is that it was a completely private mission, not affiliated with NASA. The crew successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS) at 5:42 AM EST on Saturday, January 20.
Axiom Space plans to continue these private missions to the ISS at a pace of approximately two missions per year until 2026. By that time, the company aims to launch its first commercial space station module. Derek Hassmann, chief of mission integration and operations at Axiom Space, expressed this vision during a prelaunch press conference. The company’s fourth flight, Ax-4, is scheduled for later this year, although a specific launch window has not been announced.
NASA’s Forward-Thinking Strategy
NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program is an essential part of the agency’s forward-thinking strategy. The program aims to kickstart the development of payload delivery services to the moon’s surface, and it embraces a more risk-tolerant approach compared to NASA’s traditional endeavors.
Astrobotic’s Peregrine lander, which unfortunately suffered a fatal propulsion leak preventing it from landing on the moon, is a result of a CLPS award. Despite the mission’s failure, NASA designed the program to be more tolerant of risks, encouraging innovation and pushing boundaries in lunar exploration.
Space History – International Microgravity Laboratory
Looking back at space history, this week marks the anniversary of a significant milestone. Thirty-two years ago, in 1992, NASA launched the first International Microgravity Laboratory aboard the space shuttle Discovery. This laboratory carried out numerous scientific research and experiments to study the effects of zero gravity on materials and living organisms. The mission lasted eight days, with a crew of seven returning to Earth after their groundbreaking research.
As we continue to explore the vastness of space, these achievements remind us of the incredible progress we have made and the limitless possibilities that lie ahead. From lunar landings to private missions, the space industry continues to captivate our imagination and inspire us to reach for the stars.
