Japan Achieves Historic Milestone as Fifth Nation to Reach the Moon

 

Japan achieved a significant milestone on Saturday by becoming the fifth nation to achieve a soft lunar landing with its "Moon Sniper" spacecraft, part of the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) mission. However, the success was tempered by a solar battery problem, leaving the craft with only a limited power supply.

After a suspenseful 20-minute descent, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) announced that SLIM had successfully touched down on the Moon, establishing communication. Despite the solar battery issue, JAXA officials emphasized that the craft, renowned for its precision technology, would have power for "several hours."

SLIM is part of a wave of new lunar missions, launched by both governments and private firms, marking 50 years since the first human Moon landing. While crash landings and communication challenges are common, only four other countries—United States, Soviet Union, China, and India—have achieved lunar landings.

JAXA officials remain optimistic, suggesting that the solar cells might regain functionality when the angle of the sun changes. Hitoshi Kuninaka, a JAXA official, stated in a news conference, "If the descent was not successful, it would have crashed at a very high speed. If that were the case, all functionality of the probe would be lost, but data is being sent to Earth."

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida welcomed the news but stressed the need for a detailed analysis of the solar cells. NASA Chief Bill Nelson congratulated Japan on this historic achievement, emphasizing the value of collaboration in space exploration.

Despite the solar panel setback, JAXA aims to analyze the data acquired during the landing to determine the mission's success in reaching its intended spot within 100 meters. SLIM targeted a crater where the Moon's mantle is believed to be exposed.

Two probes, one with a transmitter and a shape-shifting mini-rover, detached successfully, offering potential insights into lunar surface conditions. While the accuracy of the landing awaits verification, astronomers, such as Jonathan McDowell, consider the mission a "big success," acknowledging the challenges associated with lunar exploration.

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