Japan has Made it to the Moon

[CalMeacham]

Japan Space Agency Says Its Spacecraft Has Touched Down On Moon

If SLIM landed successfully, Japan would become the fifth country to accomplish the feat after the United States, the Soviet Union, China and India.

Jan 19, 2024, 10:54 AM EST

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s space agency said early Saturday that its spacecraft is on the moon, but is still “checking its status.” More details will be given at a news conference, officials said.

The Smart Lander for Investigating Moon, or SLIM, came down onto the lunar surface at around 12:20 a.m. Tokyo time Saturday (1520 GMT Friday). No astronauts were onboard the spacecraft.

Japan Space Agency Says Its Spacecraft Has Touched Down On Moon

[N9IWP]

Listening to press conference now – LEV 1 and 2 separated OK, and getting data from main unit, but no power from solar panels. (no cite)

Brian

[DCnDC]

Cool!

Technically, they’ve delivered spacecraft to the moon twice already, but only in the form of planned crashes by orbiting probes.