Japan’s space agency successfully landed its Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) on the moon but discovered that the spacecraft had landed upside down. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) confirmed the landing on January 20 but was aware of potential issues with power generation. Shortly after landing, the power ran out as expected. The SLIM landed about 55 meters east of its intended target site. JAXA obtained technical data on its navigation and captured images of the SLIM using its fully autonomous robot, The Lunar Excursion Vehicle 2, which is currently exploring the moon.
The space agency is investigating the cause of the main engine malfunction. There is a possibility for recovery as the solar cells powering the spacecraft face west, giving it a chance to regenerate if exposed to sufficient sunlight over time. The SLIM JAXA team stated that they are preparing for recovery and will take necessary preparations to gather more technical and scientific data from the spacecraft.
