Japan's SLIM lunar lander achieves historic moon landing, faces power struggle

The mission faces challenges as the lander's solar cell malfunctions, preventing it from generating electricity.

JAXA, the Japanese space agency, confirms SLIM's soft landing but notes that the battery may only last a few more hours. The precise issue with the solar cell is yet to be determined, raising uncertainties about SLIM's longevity. Despite the setback, the mission aims to maximize operational time to gather valuable data from the lunar surface.

The lander's innovative precision landing technology positions it within 100 meters of the target, the Shioli crater, showcasing Japan's advancement in lunar exploration.

SLIM's achievement adds Japan to the list of nations successfully landing on the moon, joining the US, China, India, and Russia.