The ambitious mission of Japan's Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) with the SLIM spacecraft already touched down on the Moon, but it did not go the way they expected as it landed face-first in their attempt. The top or face of the SLIM spacecraft was seen by Japan's moon rover after its appalling landing, yet it was able to test its novel technique that aims to look at different ways of doing so.
However, this landing was a success, as it was able to land on the moon with the said technique, and external factors affected the lander's engines leading to it descending facedown.
Japan's SLIM Landed on the Moon Face-First
JAXA / Takara Tomy / Sony Group Co., Ltd. / Doshisha University
Japan shared images of the Smart Lander for Investigating the Moon (SLIM) which shows the spacecraft upside down, in what was supposed to be a landing where it is on its feet. On its way down, it experienced issues, and JAXA said that one of the two engines of the SLIM failed, this led to the spacecraft relying on one engine to control its descent toward the lunar surface.
However, it did not fall head first, as the spacecraft tipped after its landing and this led to the current situation of the SLIM, as JAXA shared.
The image was taken by Japan's Lunar Excursion Vehicle 2 (LEV-2/SORA-Q), but it shows no adverse damages to the spacecraft, yet it lost power shortly after touchdown.
According to JAXA, the Pinpoint landing and SLIM's mission was a success, and while it did not see the most favorable outcome, the spacecraft was still able to do all of the main objectives it needed to do. First and foremost, the SLIM lander is known as an experimental, looking into this Pinpoint precision landing that will do so 100 meters before its predetermined target.
Japan's SLIM Lunar Mission
Last year, we saw the conception of the SLIM lunar lander mission take place, and in December 2023, it journeyed to the Moon's region to deliver the spacecraft set to do its experiments as it heads to the surface. As it prepared for its landing this January, SLIM entered into the lunar orbit and awaited its schedule to land on the moon, looking into its Pinpoint technique as it landed.
It also shared its immaculate sight to see on Christmas day 2023, showing pictures of the Moon from the orbit where the SLIM awaited its go signal for the experimental landing. Here, SLIM also conducted its successful main engine injection, best known for its nickname as the "Moon Sniper" meant to undertake a precision landing which it attempted last January 19.
JAXA already finished the mission and while it did not turn out to be what it expected it to, it was still able to arrive on the Moon's surface intact and standing. However, it landed on its face and this is due to various issues it faced, including its main engine's failure amidst the descent, attributing it to external factors that led to its malfunction and resulted in a faceplant on the Moon.
