Japan’s SLIM lunar mission was terminated due to the loss of communication with the device, although the accuracy of its landing set a new world record.
The SLIM mission ended about a year after launch and eight months after a successful lunar landing, the longest operating time for such missions as notes Universe Space Tech.
The SLIM rover has lost contact with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), which has been trying to re-establish contact since April, but these attempts have been unsuccessful.
Initially, the SLIM mission was designed for one lunar day, but the device showed extraordinary endurance by surviving three lunar nights. The 200 kg lander continued to operate and transmit data until April, but from May to July communication was not restored, and on August 23, JAXA officially ended operations with the device.
On January 20, 2024, SLIM landed on the Moon, making Japan the fifth country in history to perform a soft landing on Earth’s satellite. However, the device landed at an angle that limited the amount of solar energy and affected its performance. Despite this, the mission significantly exceeded initial expectations in terms of duration.
When landing, SLIM had an error of about 10 meters from the target location, which set a new world record. He also performed spectral imaging of the lunar surface with a multiband camera and endured several lunar nights.
The last signal from SLIM was received on April 28, after which communication was permanently lost. NASA tested a laser retroreflector to locate the spacecraft, a technology that will be useful for future missions. JAXA expressed its gratitude to everyone who participated in the project.
JAXA previously launched the X-ray observatory XRISM and the lunar module SLIM. The observatory will study galaxies, neutron stars and black holes, and SLIM will demonstrate the capabilities of a precision landing on the Moon.
