Japan recently achieved a significant milestone in space exploration with the successful landing of the SLIM spacecraft on the moon on Jan. 19. This makes Japan the fifth country to accomplish a soft lunar touchdown. A new photo released by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) shows the SLIM spacecraft resting on the lunar surface, providing visual evidence of its success. The photo was taken by a ball-shaped robot called LEV-2, also known as SORA-Q, one of two tiny rovers that were carried to the moon aboard SLIM.
“With this, SORA-Q became the first Japanese robot to land on the moon and take pictures,” said Kintaro Toyama, chairman and representative director of the Japanese toy company Takara Tomy, which developed LEV-2 in collaboration with JAXA, Sony, and Doshisha University.
SLIM, short for “Smart Lander for Investigating Moon,” is a demonstrator spacecraft designed to showcase the technology required for precise planetary landings. It was launched in September and reached lunar orbit on Christmas Day before making its historic descent to the lunar surface on Jan. 19. Although SLIM didn’t land in the desired orientation, the tiny rovers successfully deployed from the spacecraft and operated successfully on the lunar surface. It’s worth noting that the lander had difficulty generating electricity as its solar panels weren’t receiving sufficient sunlight due to its unexpected positioning.
JAXA officials mentioned that the lander remains functional on the lunar surface, and they’re exploring the possibility of recovering it. They expressed hope for a potential revival of SLIM before Feb. 1, when the sun will set at the probe’s landing site. Regardless of the outcome, Japan has now earned recognition for its achievement in exploring the lunar surface with the SLIM spacecraft and its accompanying rovers.
