Also read |Why is Japan’s ‘moon sniper’ landing mission important? For the mission to be considered fully successful, space officials need to confirm whether SLIM made a pinpoint landing. It was using “pinpoint landing” technology that promises far greater control than any previous moon landing. As the spacecraft descended, JAXA’s mission control said that everything was going as planned and later said that SLIM was on the lunar surface. Experts say a success of SLIM’s pinpoint landing, especially on the moon, would raise Japan’s profile in the global space technology race.

Source: The Hindu January 20, 2024 01:22 UTC