Japan Claims Historic Lunar Landing Amid Global Space Race A precise landing brings Japan into an elite club while nations vie for lunar exploration supremacyIn a historic achievement for space exploration, Japan has successfully landed its robotic spacecraft, the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM), on the lunar surface, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing race for lunar dominance. Meanwhile, the landscape of lunar exploration has been marred by setbacks, particularly for Russia. Into this mix enters the United States, which is keen to reclaim its historical leadership in lunar exploration. However, the path has been rocky; a U.S. lunar lander developed by Astrobotic Technology experienced severe fuel leaks that forced the abandonment of its would-be landing mission. One of the biggest implications of these fresh advancements in space technology lies in the exploration of lunar resources.

Source: Washington Post August 04, 2024 09:11 UTC