After several maneuvers, the SLIM module managed to land on our natural satellite. Scientists are waiting for confirmation that the ship is in good condition.
Japan became the fifth country in the world to reach the Moon. After several maneuvers, the SLIM module of the Japanese Space Agency (JAXA) managed to land on our natural satellite. Scientists are waiting for confirmation that the ship is in good condition and sending the correct data, after having landed on the selenite surface.
Based on telemetry, JAXA commentator stated that the lander has reached the surface and experts are reviewing data from the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) spacecraft, which landed around 12:20 Argentine time (15:20 UTC).
Telemetry data confirms the successful arrival of SLIM to the Moon (JAXA)
The landing on the Moon, which has one-sixth the gravity of Earth, It provides a much-needed boost to Japan’s space program, which has experienced a series of setbacks in recent years.
This includes the failure to launch its flagship H3 rocket in March 2023, successor to the current H-2A and which seeks to compete in terms of cost with other devices from commercial suppliers such as the American SpaceX.
Japan became the fifth country in the world to reach the Moon (JAXA)
SLIM was not Japan’s first lunar landing attempt. A little lander named OMOTENASHI was launched toward the moon as part of NASA’s unmanned Artemis 1 mission in November 2022, but the small Japanese probe did not reach its destination. And last April, the Hakuto-R spacecraftbuilt by Tokyo-based company ispace, crashed during landing attempt after its sensors were confused by the moon’s rugged topography.