2024-02-04 07:47:00
The Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) from the Japanese space agency JAXA, launched in September 2023, arrived on our natural satellite on January 19. Japan thus becomes the fifth nation to successfully land on the moon.
AN IMAGE OF SLIM ON THE MOON
The Japanese agency JAXA published on January 25 an astonishing image of its SLIM lander placed on the surface of our natural satellite. The image was acquired by the Sora-Q mini-rover (or LEV-2, see below), a sphere 8 cm in diameter and 250 grams equipped with two cameras. The creation of this small robot calls in particular on the know-how of the toy manufacturer Takara Tomy (with the Sony firm and Dōshisha University).
SLIM
The image confirms what the first data received seemed to indicate, namely that if SLIM succeeded in its moon landing, it did not land in the expected position and rests on its “front” side (opposite the side housing the main thrusters, we also see the latter “at the top” of SLIM). This orientation explains why the solar panels are not oriented correctly upwards, which prevents the machine’s batteries from recharging.
More informations by OLIVIER SANGUY from La Cité de l’Espace
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