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See what is possibly the last photo from Japan’s Moon lander

Japan is the fifth country to land on the lunar surface. The U.S. remains the only country to land humans on the Moon.

By Andrew Wulfeck Source FOX Weather
The X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM), and the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM), launch onboard the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 47 on September 7, 2023 from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan.

Japan SLIM Moon lander launches on H-IIA rocket

The X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM), and the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM), launch onboard the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 47 on September 7, 2023 from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan.

TOKYO – What could be the last photo from Japan’s historic Moon lander mission has been released, with the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) saying it does not know if it’ll be able to revive the spacecraft after the lunar night.

The Smart Lander for Investigating Moon mission, or SLIM for short, landed upside down on the Moon on Jan. 19. Due to its orientation, its solar cells are not pointed directly at the Sun.

This has caused operators to have limited use of the lander, and it remains unclear if the spacecraft will survive temperatures of more than -200 degrees Fahrenheit for a period of more than two weeks.

Unlike Earth, the Moon takes a whole month to complete one rotation, with one side of the natural satellite experiencing lunar day while the other experiences lunar night.

Despite the mission’s limitations, JAXA has labeled the endeavor a success and said it had dozens of images to analyze from a region of the Moon that is not well understood.

"Based on the large amount of data we have obtained, we are proceeding with analyzes to identify rocks and estimate the chemical composition of minerals, which will help solve the mystery of the origin of the Moon. We will announce scientific results as soon as they are obtained," JAXA said in a statement.

PHOTO SHOWS JAPAN’S MOON LANDER IS UPSIDE-DOWN BUT HIT ITS TARGET

  • A haunting image from Japan's SLIM lander on the Moon taken Feb. 1, 2024, could be the last we see from the craft
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    A haunting image from Japan's SLIM lander on the Moon taken Feb. 1, 2024, could be the last we see from the craft. (JAXA)

  • Japan moon lander photo
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    Japan moon rover photo (JAXA)

  • A lunar surface scan mosaic image captured by the SLIM-mounted MBC (left) and its enlarged view (right)
    Image 3 of 6

    A lunar surface scan mosaic image captured by the SLIM-mounted MBC (left) and its enlarged view (right). (Credit: JAXA, RITSUMEIKAN UNIVERSITY, THE UNIVERSITY OF AIZU)The grey area on the right of the mosaic lacks data due to the discontinuation of scanning operation. (Image: JAXA) (JAXA)

  • Image 4 of 6

    An image taken by JAXA's SLIM moon lander right after touchdown on the Moon.  ( )

  • A phot from the probe Lev-2 shows the SLIM lander on its nose on the lunar surface.
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    A phot from the probe Lev-2 shows the SLIM lander on its nose on the lunar surface. (JAXA)

  • An image taken by JAXA's SLIM moon lander right after touchdown on the Moon.
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    An image taken by JAXA's SLIM moon lander right after touchdown on the Moon.  (JAXA)

Japan is the fifth country to land on the lunar surface, a task that has been difficult and marked by epic failures by even the most experienced space programs.

In January, U.S.-based Astrobotics tried to land its Peregrine craft on the Moon. The mission ended in failure, with the private lunar lander burning up in Earth’s atmosphere.

A planned crewed landing by NASA known as the Artemis mission was set to land on the lunar surface in 2025, but that was recently pushed back to at least 2026 or 2027 because of various developmental issues.

In 2023, a Japanese company known as ispace, inc., failed its lunar landing after an apparent miscalculation.

SEE THE OBJECTS HUMANS LEFT BEHIND ON THE MOON

The next rover launch attempt from the U.S. could occur as early as November when NASA launches its Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The rover is set to investigate the Moon’s South Pole during a 100-day mission.

The space agency said data will be critical in determining the distribution of water on the lunar body and help determine the resources available for future human space exploration.

The U.S. remains the only country that has landed humans on the Moon.

NASA Artemis lunar rover

NASA's Artemis lunar rover, the Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER)

(NASA)

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