In a momentous event for space exploration, Japan’s Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) mission, completed a historic soft-landing on the Moon on January 19, 2024, marking the country as the fifth in the world to achieve this feat. Despite facing a challenge where the solar panels failed to produce power, necessitating reliance on battery reserves, the craft succeeded in transmitting data back to Earth. With a goal to land within a precise 100 square meter area, SLIM has been endearingly nicknamed the ‘moon sniper’ because of its targeted landing capabilities.
The ‘moon sniper’ mission is particularly significant as it happened close on the heels of an unsuccessful moon-landing attempt by an American private company, Astrobotic, which was funded by NASA, signaling the current trend of Asian countries leading the new space race. Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) confirmed SLIM’s landing and noted that while the solar cells weren’t generating power, a lot of data was still collected during the descent and time spent on the lunar surface. JAXA remains hopeful for the lander’s restoration since telemetry data indicates that solar power generation could be possible in the future when sunlight strikes from the west.
This accomplishment is not just about national pride but also speaks to the broader strategy of precision landing, which allows exploration missions to commence closer to areas of interest on the moon, particularly given the challenging terrain around the south pole. The implications of SLIM’s success are widespread, influencing future missions such as the planned Lunar Polar Exploration Mission, which is a joint venture between India and Japan. Meanwhile, efforts by the United States and Russia have also been renewed, with NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services program initiating multiple attempts. On a related front, India celebrates its own soft landing near the Moon’s south pole, showcasing the technological advancements in space exploration achieved by different nations.