• UGI USER
  • Jan 28, 2024
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JAPAN CONFIRMS PRECISION MOON LANDING

Why in the News?

  • Japan’s space agency, JAXA, verified the precise landing of its moon-lander on January 19.
  • Initial uncertainty arose due to solar panel failure post-landing, hindering confirmation.

About the landing: 

  • SLIM utilized maps from Chandrayaan-2’s orbiter and its navigation camera to detect obstacles during descent.
  • Despite an engine failure causing a drift of 55 m east from the designated spot, SLIM’s positional accuracy increased during descent, indicating early engine malfunction.
Source: France 24
About SLIM (Smart Lander for Investigating Moon)

·   SLIM is launched by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is a lunar lander mission.

·   It weighs (590 kg at launch) significantly less than previous lunar missions, including India’s Chandrayaan-3 impacting its trajectory, less fuel, and time to reach the moon.

·   Spacecraft will deploy two rovers ,LEV-1 and LEV-2 for studying Lunar Surface.

·   Unlike Chandrayaan-3’s quick journey, SLIM followed a more fuel-thrifty route, taking four months to reach the moon via a longer path.