Japan’s SLIM Makes “Unprecedented Pinpoint Landing” And Dies, But Eventually Comes Back To Life

JAXA

In a tale of resilience and innovation, the Japanese space program celebrated a triumphant milestone as their spacecraft, poised to make history as the fifth nation to land on the Moon, faced a perilous setback during its descent.

The spacecraft, affectionately known as the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM), encountered a precarious landing, tilting onto its side with its solar panels veering away from the Sun. This unexpected mishap left the lander immobilized for several days, casting doubt on the success of the mission and jeopardizing the ambitious endeavor.


However, in a testament to the indomitable spirit of space exploration, the issue was swiftly addressed, allowing SLIM to overcome adversity and secure Japan’s position as the fifth nation to achieve a soft landing on the lunar surface, after the USA, Soviet Union, China, and India.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) revealed on X that a fortuitous change in lighting conditions facilitated the recharging of the lander’s batteries, which had been intentionally deactivated at the onset of the mission on January 20th.


The significance of this achievement cannot be overstated, as SLIM executed what JAXA described as an “unprecedented pinpoint landing” within a mere 180 feet of the targeted landing zone. This marks the highest precision landing ever achieved on the Moon, a remarkable feat that would have been challenging to celebrate if the craft had landed on its side, lost power immediately, and ceased functioning.

JAXA

Moreover, the innovative landing technology employed by SLIM holds promise for future lunar mission, offering the capability to safety navigate and land on challenging terrain features such as lunar hilltops. These elevated regions are believed to harbor valuable resources, including oxygen and hydrogen, essential for sustaining human life and facilitating future space exploration initiatives.

The successful landing of SLIM comes on the heels of other recent achievements in lunar exploration, including India’s Chandrayaan-3 rover mission, which touched down on the Moon’s uncharted south pole. This historic feat elicited widespread jubilation in India, further highlighting the global enthusiasm and collaboration driving advancements in space exploration.

 

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