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Japan's "Moon Sniper" is a high-precision lunar lander developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The lander, officially known as the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM), successfully touched down on the lunar surface on January 19, 2024.
The SLIM probe touched down successfully on the moon today (Jan. 19), but its solar panels aren't generating electricity as planned.
The other countries in the moon-landing club are the Soviet Union and the United States, which made their first trips to the lunar surface during the Cold War space race; China, whose initial landing occurred in December 2013; and India, whose Chandrayaan-3 lander-rover duo touched down last August. "Global interest in the moon is growing, with many nations and commercial entities entering the field," added the nonprofit advocacy group, which is led by former TV "Science Guy" Bill Nye. The instrument's data could reveal insights about the area's composition, which in turn could shed light on the moon's formation and evolution — but it won't get the chance to do so unless SLIM's solar panels get up and running.
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