Shortly after landing on the moon, the Japanese probe “Slim” was switched off due to energy problems. Japan’s space agency has now published the first images – it was said that a “precise” landing was successful.
The Japanese space agency Jaxa has published the first images of its space probe “SLIM” on the moon. The images show the yellow, box-shaped lander on the rocky lunar surface, with flat hills visible in the distance.
The spacecraft “succeeded in a precise soft landing,” it said. “The landing point is proven to be 55 meters from the target point.”
Shortly after its successful landing on Saturday, the probe was switched off due to problems with the power supply. The solar panel did not provide any electricity, they said. The lander “SLIM” (Smart Lander for Investigating Moon) initially communicated with the ground station and said data had been received. At the same time, Jaxa expressed the hope that a new start could be successful if the solar radiation on the solar cells of “SLIM” was favorable.
Third Moon landing attempt
When evaluating the data collected during the landing, it should be clarified, among other things, whether the 2.40 meter long and 1.70 meter wide spacecraft achieved the goal of landing within the planned radius of 100 meters in the Shioli crater. “SLIM” has now apparently succeeded in doing this.
Scientists hope to access rock in the crater that is normally hidden far beneath the lunar surface. This rock could provide information about water resources.
It was Japan’s third attempt at a moon landing after two failed missions. Previously, only the USA, the Soviet Union, China and India had successfully landed on the moon. The Japanese space agency had previously achieved a precision landing on an asteroid, but the challenge is greater on the moon, where gravity is stronger.