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Miniature model of the “Slim” probe
Photo: Kim Kyung-Hoon / REUTERS
Japan's moon landing, which has been planned for years, has apparently been a success.
According to the Japanese space agency, the Japanese mini spacecraft “Slim” reached Earth’s satellite on Friday afternoon Central European time and touched down softly on it.
This makes Japan only the fifth country that has managed to send a spacecraft to the moon.
Previously, only the USA, the Soviet Union, China and India had successfully landed on the moon.
Two Japanese lunar missions failed in 2022 and 2023.
The US space agency NASA postponed a planned moon landing just a few days ago.
The “Slim” probe, short for “Smart Lander for Investigating Moon,” is just 2.40 meters long and 1.70 meters wide.
According to the plan, it was supposed to land in the Shioli crater, which is less than 300 meters in diameter.
It is not yet known whether this was successful.
Scientists assume that the lunar mantle, the still poorly understood layer beneath the crust, is accessible from the surface.
The task of “Slim” will be to examine rocks and search for water on the moon.
che/Reuters/doa