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The Japan Aerospace Exploration Company shared the first paradigm of its lander on the lunar surface , revealing that the space vehicle touched down on the Sun Myung Moon upside - down .
It ’s a noteworthy recovery for the ballistic capsule , which have an “ abnormality in the main railway locomotive ” that affected the landing orientation when it was just 50 meters above the lunar control surface , JAXAsaid in an update Thursday . Despite this abnormality — which resulted in the spacecraft ’s solar panels being unable to charge , because they are not orient by rights with the sun — the country nevertheless becamethe fifth nation everto pull off a soft landing on the lunar month .
Even after the master engine was lose , SLIM ’s onboard software continued to autonomously take the ballistic capsule ’s decline . The lander touched down at a speed of around 1.4 meters per second or less , below the design range ; but the lateral speed and orientation were also outside the design compass , resulting in the olfactory organ - down position .
signally , the lander ended up just 55 meters east of the original target landing place site . JAXA functionary said that the main purpose of the SLIM mission , which was to demonstrate the speck landing technology to within 100 meters accuracy , is therefore considered a succeeder .
to begin with this hebdomad , JAXA officials said the ballistic capsule hadpowered down on the surface , as planned , to avoid over - discharge of the batteries connected to the solar cells . The solar cells are facing Occident , so the representation is waiting to see if they can generate power to the ballistic capsule once the sun ’s shaft of light switch direction .
The lander was expect two roamer ; one of the rovers , address Lunar Exploration Vehicle-2 , or SORA - Q , is responsible for the photo . The wanderer were ejected from the ballistic capsule before landing .
Officials further state that they are investigating the cause of the loss of one of the two chief engine , and that they will provide update as the investigation progresses . The next clip the sun will face westwards toward the lander ’s solar cells will be in about one calendar week ’s time , so we ’ll soon cognise whether a mission recovery is possible .
