Tokyo –
An unmanned lunar probe has captured and transmitted data analyzing 10 lunar rocks. This is a better-than-expected achievement that could provide clues about the moon’s origins, Japanese space agency officials announced Wednesday.
According to a project by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, the Smart Lander for Lunar Exploration (SLIM), which landed on the moon last month, spent four days investigating rock composition on the moon using a multiband spectral camera. It was completed. Directed by Shinichiro Sakai.
Japan’s first lunar exploration. The spacecraft achieved a historic precision touchdown on January 20, but landed in the wrong direction and its solar panels could not see the sun at first and turned off after a short communication with Earth. Became. However, on the eighth day, it started operating and was able to successfully re-establish communication with JAXA’s command center on Earth.
A black-and-white photo sent shortly after SLIM was restarted showed the moon’s bumpy surface, including six rocks. In the end, data was obtained from a total of 10 rocks, all of which had dog breed names such as “Akita,” “Beagle,” and “Shiba Inu.”
Professor Sakai said, “I hope that the analysis of the rocks will lead to the origin of the moon.” Comparing the mineral composition of the moon’s rocks with that of Earth could tell whether the rocks share any common elements, he said. According to the “giant impact” hypothesis, the moon was formed as a result of Earth colliding with other planets and spinning off smaller masses from them.
The JAXA team had expected SLIM to study and analyze only one rock, so it was pleased to have data on 10 rocks, and the team will pursue research into the origin of the moon. It happened.
SLIM is currently in “hibernation” for another lunar night that lasts until late February. It remains to be seen whether the spacecraft and spectrometer will be able to withstand the bitter cold at night and “wake up” when sunlight returns.
The spacecraft landed near Shiori Crater, an area covered in volcanic rock, about 55 meters (60 yards) from its target. This is the most precise landing compared to previous lunar explorations, which typically targeted flat areas at least 10 kilometers (6 miles) wide.
According to JAXA, SLIM’s touchdown would have been within meters of the target had the lander not encountered a last-minute failure of one of its two main engines that caused a more difficult landing than planned. It is estimated that
SLIM carried two autonomous spacecraft that were launched shortly before landing to record the landing, surrounding conditions, and other lunar data. The two small spacecraft completed their mission of documenting SLIM’s initial work and then ceased operations.
With this landing, Japan became the fifth country in the world to reach the moon, after the United States, the Soviet Union, China, and India.