Japan's SLIM mission, facilitated by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), achieved a significant milestone with its lunar probe's successful landing. The photograph of the SLIM probe touching down on the moon was captured by the LEV-2 robot. This tiny robot, about the size of a palm, was a part of the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) mission and played a crucial role in documenting the historic event.
Collaborating with Tomy Co. and other institutions, JAXA has been at the forefront of space exploration efforts. The image of the SLIM probe making its lunar landing was not the only visual data released by JAXA; the probe also transmitted images of the moon's rugged surface using its advanced multi-band spectral camera. Despite encountering a solar panel malfunction that rendered SLIM inactive, the probe successfully utilized its internal battery to send these images back to Earth, showcasing the significance of the mission.
Launched from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture in September, the SLIM probe's achievement of landing on the moon marks a historic moment for Japanese space exploration. With this successful lunar touchdown, Japan joins the ranks of a select group of nations that have landed unmanned spacecraft on the moon, including the former Soviet Union, the United States, China, and India. The endeavor not only highlights technological advancements but also underlines Japan's growing presence in the field of space exploration.