Japan Release SLIM Moon Lander Photo on Moon Surface By LEV-2, a Tiny Rover

Space News ,Japan :- Japan's SLIM spacecraft has successfully touched down on the moon, marking the country as the fifth nation ever to achieve a soft lunar landing. The remarkable achievement was visually documented in a new photo released by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) on Wednesday night (Jan. 24). The image captures SLIM resting on the lunar surface, albeit in an unexpected position with its nose touching the gray dirt.

The photograph was taken by LEV-2 ("Lunar Exploration Vehicle-2"), a ball-shaped robot also known as SORA-Q. SORA-Q is one of two tiny rovers that accompanied SLIM on its journey to the moon. Kintaro Toyama, chairman and representative director of the Japanese toy company Takara Tomy, expressed pride in the success of SORA-Q, stating that it became the first Japanese robot to land on the moon and capture images.

SLIM, short for "Smart Lander for Investigating Moon," is a demonstrator spacecraft designed to showcase technology for precise planetary landings. Launched in September, along with an X-ray space telescope called XRISM, SLIM reached lunar orbit on Christmas Day and executed its historic descent to the lunar surface on Jan. 19. However, the landing did not go entirely as planned, as SLIM ended up resting on its head, hindering the expected sunlight harvest by its solar panels.

Despite the unexpected orientation, the photo release confirms the successful deployment and operation of the bantam daughter craft, LEV-2 and LEV-1, which were deployed during SLIM's descent. The image, transferred to mission control via LEV-1, revealed normal communication between LEV-1 and LEV-2.

Although SLIM's solar panels are not generating electricity due to its awkward position, the mission team confirmed that SLIM remains alive on the lunar surface. A press conference held by JAXA on Wednesday night provided updates, expressing hope for a possible SLIM revival until Feb. 1, when the sun is expected to set at the probe's landing site.

Regardless of the challenges faced, Japan has now established itself with lunar-surface achievements, thanks to the pioneering efforts of SLIM and its two accompanying rovers.