Japan finally declares its SLIM lunar module dead

Japan has ended its SLIM lunar mission after no contact could be established with the lander since April.

The Japan Aerospace Agency (JAXA) launched the Smart Lander to study the moon (SLIM) aboard an H-IIA rocket from the Tanegashima Space Center on September 7, 2023. The tiny lander made a successfulalbeit crookedly, landed on the rim of the Shioli crater on January 19 of this year. The 200-kilogram, solar-powered lander, which was only supposed to spend a single lunar day on the surface, caused a big surprise by surviving three ice-cold lunar nights.

In other words, SLIM was turned on and reported back to ground teams on Earth in February, March and even April – but now, JAXA says, the game is over.

JAXA published a opinion on August 26, announcing that the agency had suspended its “operations” on August 23 after failing to establish communication with the spacecraft during its operational period from May to July.

Related: We finally know why the Peregrine lunar module failed

The spacecraft last made contact with Earth in End of Aprilbut the mission team had continued its monthly efforts to receive a signal from SLIM.

Although the SLIM lander landed on its side, it achieved its main target. “The landing accuracy was evaluated with a position error of approximately 10 meters (32.8 feet) from the target point, confirming the world's first successful pinpoint landing,” the JAXA statement said.

The spacecraft, nicknamed “Moon Sniper,” also achieved secondary objectives: With its multiband camera (MBC), it was able to carry out spectral observations in ten wavelength bands on ten rocks, thus exceeding all expectations that it surprisingly revived after its first day on the Moon.

As an additional bonus, NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) succeeded, Retroreflector from ping SLIM during the flyover over the mission landing site.

“We would like to express our deepest gratitude to all parties involved in the development and operation of SLIM, as well as to all those who have promoted the mission, for their cooperation and support,” the statement concluded.

Japan is also working with India on a Moon landing mission at the South Polethat could come to market this decade.

Discover the Samsung Fall Sale 2024: Save up to $2,700 on the best 8K TVs

Family of stabbed young basketball player breaks silence with heartbreaking statement as thugs face ...

Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department employee stabbed at Rittenhouse Square; suspect in cust...

Japan finally declares its SLIM lunar module dead

Related posts:

By Hudson Brooklyn

You Missed

Kamala Harris and Oprah Winfrey Interview: Kamala Harris tells Oprah Winfrey in an interview that someone broke into her house and shot her | World News

Teenager accused of raping Melbourne woman while jogging released

Sad certainty: Accident victim died ten days after head-on crash

Death of an EY employee in India: Harsh Goenka shares 6 tips to promote a healthy workplace culture

Japan finally declares its SLIM lunar module dead

Related posts:

By Hudson Brooklyn

Related Post

Kamala Harris and Oprah Winfrey Interview: Kamala Harris tells Oprah Winfrey in an interview that someone broke into her house and shot her | World News

Teenager accused of raping Melbourne woman while jogging released

Sad certainty: Accident victim died ten days after head-on crash

You Missed

Kamala Harris and Oprah Winfrey Interview: Kamala Harris tells Oprah Winfrey in an interview that someone broke into her house and shot her | World News

Teenager accused of raping Melbourne woman while jogging released

Sad certainty: Accident victim died ten days after head-on crash

Death of an EY employee in India: Harsh Goenka shares 6 tips to promote a healthy workplace culture