Japan achieved a soft lunar landing on Saturday, making it the fifth nation to do so. However, the country's "Moon Sniper" spacecraft encountered a solar battery problem, causing it to run out of power. Despite this setback, the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) successfully touched down after a tense 20-minute descent, and communication was established.

The spacecraft, nicknamed the "Moon Sniper" for its precision technology, is now facing a power shortage due to the malfunctioning solar cells. JAXA official Hitoshi Kuninaka stated that the craft would only have power for "several hours." SLIM is part of a new wave of lunar missions launched by governments and private firms, marking 50 years since the first human Moon landing.

While the solar panel issue poses a significant challenge, JAXA remains hopeful that the craft's batteries might work again once the angle of the sun changes. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called the landing "very welcome news" but emphasized the need for more detailed analysis of the solar cells.

JAXA aims to analyze the data acquired during the landing to determine whether the craft achieved its intended landing spot within 100 meters. The mission also involved detaching two probes, one with a transmitter and another designed to explore the lunar surface and transmit images back to Earth.

Despite the solar panel problem, Harvard–Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics astronomer Jonathan McDowell expressed optimism about the mission's overall success. He noted that while the cause of the solar panel issue could be various, the mission's achievements are significant.

Renewed interest in lunar exploration is evident, with countries like Russia, China, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates also pursuing lunar missions. However, challenges and setbacks, such as fuel leaks and communication loss, have been experienced by various missions, including those from the United States and Japan.

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