Japan’s uncrewed moon lander, the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM), achieved a significant milestone by successfully touching down on the lunar surface. This feat marks Japan’s entry into an elite group of countries that have managed lunar landings.
Technical Setbacks Post-Landing
Despite the successful landing, SLIM faced immediate technical difficulties. A power glitch hampered its solar cells, preventing them from generating the necessary electricity for the lander’s survival in the challenging lunar environment. As a result, the lander was expected to exhaust its batteries within hours after touchdown.
Potential for Recovery
There remains a glimmer of hope that the probe might “wake up” if the orientation of the lander improves relative to the sun, allowing the solar cells to generate power. However, this outcome is uncertain.
Objectives and Future Prospects
SLIM was designed to demonstrate high-precision landing capabilities and innovative lightweight design for smaller spacecraft. Despite the current challenges, the mission has contributed valuable insights and data for future lunar exploration efforts.
Also learn about US Moon Mission Faces Complications in Landing.
