Aiming to land on the moon for the first time in Japan, the probe "OMOTENASHI" launched in the United States has not been stable in communication with the ground after separation from the rocket, JAXA = Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency He explained that while landing is a challenge, success is tough.
The probe "OMOTENASHI" aiming for Japan's first moon landing was launched from the Kennedy Space Center on the 16th of Japan time by a large American rocket and was separated from the rocket, but the situation where communication with the ground is unstable continues. I'm here.
JAXA held an online briefing on the 18th and revealed that the solar panel on the spacecraft was not able to charge the battery because it was oriented so that it could not receive light, and the communication situation had not improved.
The spacecraft will need to correct its trajectory. I explained that there are risks and success is tough.
After that, we will decide whether to attempt the moon landing by the night of the 21st of this month while checking the communication status with the spacecraft.
Professor Shigeaki Hashimoto of JAXA's Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, who is responsible for the development of "OMOTENASHI," said, "It is very unfortunate that the situation was unexpected. First of all, we want to do everything possible to land on the moon."