Japan’s SLIM Spacecraft Makes Successful Lunar Landing

Credit: JAXA

Japan’s Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) successfully made a soft and precise landing on the lunar surface. It landed 55 meters from its target, comfortably within its 100-meter range. The landing occurred on January 19, 2024, solidifying Japan as only the fifth nation to put a spacecraft on the Moon. 

Before landing, SLIM released two autonomous probes that captured images of the lander once it touched down on the lunar surface. After this, SLIM had to power down for several days because the solar panels were positioned away from the Sun; however, it reactivated on January 28th, resuming its mission of collecting data from the lunar environment.  With parts on board, VPT is proud to be part of this historic mission. We congratulate everyone involved in its success.