Japan’s Historic Lunar Landing: A Twist of Fate
3 min read
The historic Japanese lunar landing on January 25, 2024, marked a significant milestone in the country’s space exploration journey. However, an unexpected turn of events left the Slim lander in an unusual position, raising concerns about its ability to continue its mission.
The Slim lander, developed by the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), made a soft touchdown on the lunar surface at approximately 00:20 Japan Standard Time (15:20 GMT). The first image transmitted from the Moon showed the spacecraft in an unexpected orientation, with its solar panels facing away from the Sun.
JAXA confirmed that an abnormality in the main engine had affected the landing attitude of the spacecraft. One of the two large thrusters failed during the descent, causing the lander to rotate 90 degrees from its intended position.
To capture and transmit the image of the stricken Slim lander, JAXA relied on its secondary roving robot, Lev-1, and the baseball-sized Sora-Q rover. These robots were ejected from the lander moments before touchdown and equipped with radio communication capabilities.
The Slim lander, unable to generate the necessary power from its solar cells due to its orientation, was shut down three hours after arrival. With the battery rapidly draining, JAXA officials made the decision to hibernate the spacecraft, hoping that the lighting angles would change at its landing location and allow the solar cells to function properly.
Before hibernation, controllers were able to pull down a series of images of the surface taken by the on-board infrared camera. These images revealed that the spacecraft was on a slope, surrounded by small rocks, and located at the edge of an equatorial crater known as Shioli.
The successful landing of Slim made JAXA the fifth national space agency to achieve a soft touchdown on the Moon, joining the United States, the former Soviet Union, China, and India. Despite the initial setback, JAXA officials remained optimistic about the mission’s potential.
The Slim lander’s onboard computer used rapid image processing and crater mapping to avoid hazards during its descent, achieving a touchdown point within 100 meters of the targeted location. The success of the two rovers, Sora-Q and Lev-1, was also a significant achievement. Sora-Q moved on the lunar surface and took its picture, while Lev-1 managed to hop, marking the first movement of this kind in lunar exploration. Both rovers have also powered down.
JAXA’s accomplishment represents a groundbreaking achievement in lunar exploration. The acquired knowledge and experience will be applied in upcoming missions, and the inter-robot communication and fully autonomous operations are considered valuable technology demonstrations for future lunar explorations.
The targeted landing site was on the slopes approaching Shioli Crater, which is just south of the Moon’s equator. The Moon’s surface, as captured in a mosaic from Slim’s on-board camera, comprises 257 individual views.
Despite the initial challenges, JAXA remains hopeful that sunlight will revive the stricken Moon lander. The hope is that the lighting angles will change at its landing location, allowing the solar cells to function properly and wake the spacecraft from hibernation.
The successful landing of the Slim lander marks a significant step forward in Japan’s space exploration journey. The country’s commitment to innovation and exploration continues to inspire and push the boundaries of scientific discovery.
In conclusion, the historic Japanese lunar landing on January 25, 2024, marked a significant milestone in Japan’s space exploration journey. Despite an unexpected twist of fate that left the Slim lander in an unusual position, JAXA officials remain optimistic about the mission’s potential. The acquired knowledge and experience will be applied in upcoming missions, and the inter-robot communication and fully autonomous operations are considered valuable technology demonstrations for future lunar explorations. The lighting angles at the landing location hold the key to reviving the stricken Moon lander, and JAXA remains hopeful that sunlight will provide the solution. The commitment to innovation and exploration continues to inspire and push the boundaries of scientific discovery.
