Japan's lunar probe successfully landed on the Moon using vision-based navigation. Regrettably, the mission faced a setback as the craft's solar panels malfunctioned, significantly limiting its battery life, an unfortunate twist in an otherwise intriguing story. 

(Photo : Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)

The SpaceX Falcon Heavy launches from Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, on February 6, 2018, on its demonstration mission. 

Japan's Moon Sniper

The inaugural lunar landing by Japan's space agency faced a potential mission cut due to a power system glitch. The Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM), a robotic mission, initiated its final descent lasting 20 minutes, employing two hydrazine-fueled engines to descend from orbit. 

Hovering first at 500 meters and later at 50 meters altitude, The Verge reported that the SLIM meticulously adjusted its vertical descent by pulsing its engines before successfully landing at 10:20 am EST.

JAXA, the entity overseeing the SLIM mission, broadcasted the live landing on YouTube, and approximately two hours following the touchdown, JAXA officials convened for a press conference, confirming a seemingly successful landing remarkably close to the intended target. 

SLIM's objective was to settle near the lunar surface, next to the Shioli crater, spanning almost 900 feet, in the Sea of Nectar region on the Moon's near side. 

Facing Complications

However, complications arose as ground controllers at JAXA's Sagamihara Campus, in Tokyo's western suburbs, identified issues with the lander shortly after landing. The solar array failed to generate electricity, leaving officials concerned that SLIM's battery would deplete within a few hours without power.

In a race against time during potentially the mission's final hours, engineers prioritized the download of crucial data from SLIM, including imagery captured during its descent and potential new lunar surface pictures. 

As per ArsTechnica, officials reported robust communication links between SLIM and Earth-based ground stations, heightening the urgency of salvaging valuable mission data.

The mission's primary objective was to achieve a precise landing within 100 meters of the designated target, representing a substantial improvement in lunar landing precision compared to conventional measurements in miles or kilometers. 

This success sets the stage for future Moon missions, allowing spacecraft to land closer to valuable lunar resources like water ice. 

The analysis of SLIM's data to determine the precision of the landing is expected to take approximately a month, according to Hitoshi Kuninaka, director general of JAXA's Institute of Space and Astronautical Science. 

During the critical moments leading up to the landing, SLIM had plans to deploy two diminutive robots that would descend onto the lunar surface. The envisioned outcome involved these robots capturing images of the lander precisely as it made contact with the Moon. 

JAXA has coined these robotic companions as Lunar Excursion Vehicles (LEVs), with one of them equipped with a hopping mechanism specifically designed for traversing short distances across the lunar landscape.

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Despite potential issues with the solar cells, Kuninaka remains optimistic, noting that SLIM followed the expected course during the real-time data live stream, indicating a likely achievement of high-precision landing within the 100-meter accuracy threshold.

On a positive note, all other components, including propulsion, thermal, and communication systems, are reportedly functioning seamlessly. 

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