Japan chooses to go to the Moon, and its doing so with a strong emphasis on accuracy.
Update: January 19, 12:13 p.m.
ET: SLIM appears to have landed on the Moon, but its status remains unknown.
Artist’s depiction of SLIM.Image: JAXA
like stay tuned for updates.
Update: January 19, 12:48 p.m.
ET: SLIM performed a soft landing, but its solar cells are currently unable to generate electricity.
An illustration of the landing procedure.Graphic: JAXA
Now in battery mode, the lander may only have a few hours to live.
Read our follow-up articlehereto keep up with further updates.
SLIM is expected to perform its soft landing on Friday, January 19 at 10:20 a.m.
SLIM will attempt a “two-step landing” method, in which the primary landing gear first touches the lunar surface and then rotates forward to stabilize.Graphic: JAXA
ET (Saturday at 12:20 a.m. Japan time).
Space agency JAXA is livestreaming the event, with the broadcast starting at 9 a.m. you could catch the action at the JAXAsYouTube channelor via the livestream below.
The landing procedure will initiate at around 10 a.m.
The target ellipse measures roughly 328 feet by 328 feet, or 100 meters by 100 meters.
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