Japan becomes 5th country to reach moon, but lunar lander rapidly losing power: space agency

Japan became the fifth nation to land on the moon on Friday, after the country's space agency said its Smart Lander for Investigating Moon — or SLIM — successfully touched down on the lunar surface.

According to space agency officials, new technology was used to land on a precise location.

Though the launch and touchdown was successful, later parts of the mission might not be completed as SLIM's solar panels were not generating electricity for the spacecraft — possibly as a result of how they are angled.

This forced the teams to axe some of its functions, including the heater, so it can run on battery power for a few hours.

Global’s Kyle Benning reports.

For more info, please go to https://globalnews.ca/news/10210412/lunar-lander-moon-launch-us/

Subscribe to Global News Channel HERE: http://bit.ly/20fcXDc
Like Global News on Facebook HERE: http://bit.ly/255GMJQ
Follow Global News on Twitter HERE: http://bit.ly/1Toz8mt
Follow Global News on Instagram HERE: https://bit.ly/2QZaZIB

#GlobalNews #Japan #Moon