Aiming to land on the moon for the first time in Japan, the “OMOTENASHI” probe launched in the United States was not stable in communication with the ground after separation from the rocket, JAXA = Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Explained that during the landing is a challenge, success is difficult.
The “OMOTENASHI” spacecraft targeting Japan’s first moon landing was launched from Japan’s Kennedy Space Center on the 16th by a large American rocket and was separated from the rocket, but the situation that communication with the ground is unstable continues. I am here.
JAXA held an online briefing on the 18th and revealed that the solar panel on the spacecraft was unable to charge the battery because it was oriented so that it could not receive light and the communication situation had not improved.
The spacecraft will have to correct its trajectory, and if no improvement is seen as it is, there is a risk of passing the moon. I explained that there are risks and success is difficult.
After that, we will decide whether to attempt a moon landing by the night of the 21st of this month by checking the status of communication with the spacecraft.
Professor Shigeaki Hashimoto of JAXA’s Institute of Space and Astronautical Sciences, responsible for the development of ‘OMOTENASHI’, said: ‘It is really unfortunate that the situation was unexpected. First of all, we want to do everything possible to land on the Moon.”
