Japan’s SLIM spacecraft successfully lands on lunar surface, becoming fifth country to achieve moon landing
Japan has made history as its SLIM spacecraft successfully landed on the lunar surface, making it the fifth country to achieve a moon landing. The SLIM lander, which stands for Smart Lander for Investigating Moon, launched in September and touched down on the lunar surface around 10:20 a.m. ET, according to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
The soft landing was confirmed by JAXA’s president, Hiroshi Yamakawa, who stated that the spacecraft was able to send signals after its descent. However, there were some issues with the solar panel capabilities upon landing, leaving the spacecraft reliant on battery power. Despite this setback, Hitoshi Kuninaka, director general of JAXA, expressed his belief that this mission was a significant step forward.
Japan now joins the ranks of Russia (then the Soviet Union), the U.S., China, and India as countries that have successfully landed on the moon. India achieved its moon landing last year with its Chandrayaan-3 mission.
The SLIM mission is a cargo research mission that carries various scientific payloads, including an analysis camera and a pair of lunar rovers. This mission aims to gather valuable data and insights about the lunar surface.
Moon landings have been attempted by governments and private companies for decades, with mixed success. Since the early 1960s, more than 50 attempts have been made to land on the moon, highlighting the challenges and risks involved in such missions. Even in the modern era, moon landings remain a complex endeavor.
Last year, a Japanese company called ispace made its first attempt to land on the moon but unfortunately experienced a crash in the final moments. Similarly, U.S. company Astrobotic encountered problems shortly after launch during its first moon mission earlier this month, resulting in a failed landing attempt.
Despite these setbacks, more moon landing attempts are on the horizon. U.S. companies Intuitive Machines and Firefly are preparing to fly moon landers later this year, while China plans to launch another lunar lander in May. These missions demonstrate the continued interest and investment in lunar exploration.
The successful landing of Japan’s SLIM spacecraft is a testament to the country’s growing presence in the field of space exploration. By joining the exclusive group of countries that have achieved moon landings, Japan solidifies its position as a national space power. The valuable data and insights gathered from this mission will contribute to our understanding of the moon and pave the way for future lunar exploration endeavors.
