Japan's SLIM 'moon sniper' lander arrives in lunar orbit for Christmas

[KingClinton]

We have had a few lunar landing attempts this year, let's hope this one is a success!

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source= ... rX5FhSKET2

[smp]

Thanks very much for posting this, Clinton!

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[KingClinton]

Soft landing planned for this weekend, exciting times!

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source= ... -ajEdnzQu_

[Thefatkitty]

Keeping fingers crossed; you go Japan!

Thanks too Clinton for the info

[Ylem]

Looking good for SORA-Q tomorrow
More info;
Japan moon landing features a transforming robot https://www.npr.org/2024/01/18/12253283 ... rmers-jaxa

[smp]

From Ars Technica:
"Japan’s “Moon sniper” mission aims for precise lunar landing"

https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/01/j ... r-landing/

Still waiting for any news...

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[smp]

Telemetry says they have landed!

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[smp]

They have been spending a lot of time "checking the status."
The live stream has ended predicting a press conference later.

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[KingClinton]

Telemetry says they have landed!

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I see the same over on Twitter, still waiting for some official video etc.
Super cool!

[KingClinton]

There will be a press conference on their Youtube channel soon.

https://t.co/QI2KU8peO2

[KingClinton]

Although telemetry is incoming, it appears the lander may be in an unfavourable orientation.
Still awaiting official confirmation as scientists continue to pore over the telemetry.

*edit* News just in, JAXA says it could take up to two hours to confirm status of SLIM lander.

[smp]

By the information provided their Press Conference, the Moon Lander successfully soft landed on the moon. The team is now assessing the precision of the landing, and whether or not they achieved their goal of landing within 100 meters of their desired target. Everything is said to be working aboard the Lander - except the Solar Power package. The team continues to assess whether the Lander issue can be corrected, or if the Lander will go silent when the battery power runs out.

Congratulations to Japan for achieving this success, and sincere wishes for the best going forward!

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[smp]

From CNN:
"Japan’s lunar lander reaches the moon but is rapidly losing power, space agency says"

https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/19/world/ja ... index.html

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[KingClinton]

Houston, we have a problem!

[smp]

Thanks for the update, Clinton!
Yeah, the lander had two short legs and one long leg (supposedly for landing on a slope?) and I thought it toppled over after touching down, but the articles are saying some sort of engine failure/anomaly.

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[smp]

From Ars Technica:
"A Japanese spacecraft faceplanted on the Moon and lived to tell the tale"

https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/01/a ... -the-tale/

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[smp]

Good news today from The Guardian:
"Japan’s Slim moon lander overcomes power crisis to start scientific operations"

https://www.theguardian.com/science/202 ... os-surface

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[smp]

And this from CNN:
"Japan’s ‘Moon Sniper’ robot explorer resumes operations on lunar surface"

https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/29/asia/jap ... index.html

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[KingClinton]

Thanks for the update Steven.
At least some science and a few nice images will be returned before the night sets in and the craft is left without protection.

Not sure about the "Poodle rock" name, sounds like something the conspiracy crowd might take too literally.
Just recently they saw a human femur looking rock on Mars and that sent them into a dizzy spin!

[pakarinen]

"A Japanese spacecraft faceplanted on the Moon and lived to tell the tale"

.
That was my thought when I saw the pic.