Japan bids farewell to SLIM: The Moon lander’s stellar journey ends in silence
Japan bids farewell to SLIM: The Moon lander’s stellar journey ends in silence
Produced by: Tarun Mishra
Designed by: Manoj Kumar
Mission Conclusion
Japan’s Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has officially ended the SLIM moon mission after failing to reestablish contact with the lander since April.
Plant Chambers on the Moon
As part of the Artemis III mission, astronauts will establish growth chambers on the Moon to cultivate various plant species, including duckweed and thale cress. These plants are chosen for their ability to adapt to the lunar environment and their potential as sustainable food sources.
Launch and Landing
The Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) was launched on September 7, 2023, aboard a H-IIA rocket from Tanegashima Space Center. It achieved a successful, though tilted, landing on the rim of Shioli Crater on January 19, 2024.
Operational Duration
Designed for a single lunar day, the 440-pound (200-kilogram) SLIM exceeded expectations by surviving three lunar nights before communication was lost.
Communication Attempts
Despite efforts to contact the spacecraft from May to July 2024, JAXA reported on August 26 that all attempts to establish communication failed, leading to the official conclusion of operations on August 23.
Mission Achievements
SLIM successfully met its primary goal of pinpoint landing, achieving a positional error of about 10 meters (32.8 feet) from the target. The spacecraft also completed its secondary objectives, including detailed spectral observations using its Multi-Band Camera (MBC).
Final Contact
The last communication with SLIM occurred in late April, with the mission team making monthly attempts to receive a signal until the end of July.
Additional Success
NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) successfully detected SLIM’s retroreflector during passes over the landing site, providing additional data about the mission.
Future Plans
JAXA expressed gratitude to all involved in SLIM’s development and operations and mentioned ongoing collaboration with India on a planned lunar south pole mission, expected to launch later this decade.
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