Japan spacecraft lands on moon, soft landing success yet to be confirmed

Japan spacecraft landed on the moon on Friday, however, the degree of success in the landing is not yet clear.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) attempted the landing of the lander dubbed “Moon Sniper” within 100 meters of the target. The Smart Lander for Investigating Moon, or SLIM, descended onto the lunar surface around 8:50 pm. However, the space agency said it is still “checking its status.” Further details will be provided shortly in a news conference expected soon.

Launched atop the H-IIA rocket in September from the southern island of Tanegashima, the probe aims to achieve a successful “pinpoint” touchdown. If successful, Japan would become the fifth country, after the United States, Russia, China, and India, to have successfully landed a probe on the Moon.

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What is the aim of the SLIM lander?

The SLIM lander, equipped with compact lunar probes, aims to achieve precise landing, referred to as the ‘Moon Sniper’ in Japanese. With lightweight equipment designed for advanced observations and adaptable landings on resource-scarce planets, it signifies a significant advancement in exploration strategies.

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The Japanese space agency, JAXA, states that the critical objective is to demonstrate landing accuracy within 100 meters, notably in the designated 4 km x 2.4 km landing area for Chandrayaan-3.

JAXA asserts that the development of the SLIM lander marks a qualitative shift, enabling humans to land precisely where intended, challenging the previous norm of choosing easier landing spots.

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