Page 45 - Smart Lander News Today

Tokyo (AFP) Jan 20, 2024 - Japan on Saturday became only the fifth nation to achieve a soft Moon landing, but the crafts long-term fate was in doubt after space agency officials said its solar cells were not generating power

Here is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.

Japan on Saturday became only the fifth nation to achieve a soft lunar landing, but its "Moon Sniper" spacecraft was running out of power due to a solar battery problem.

Japan, whose unmanned "sniper" probe made a lunar touchdown on Saturday, is one of many countries and private companies launching new missions to the Moon.

But officials said the mission might be cut short.

A Japanese spacecraft equipped with precision navigation technology has successfully landed on the Moon, but the fate of its mission is uncertain due to problems with its solar power generation system, according to the country's space agency

“We believe the soft landing itself was successful,” said JAXA Director General Hitoshi Kuninaka

The United States still refuses to call for a ceasefire in Gaza, despite repeated calls from humanitarian workers; An extreme heatwave warning for parts of Western Australia and South Australia; Alex De Minaur quietly confident as he advances into the fourth round of the Australian Open.

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s spacecraft arrived on the surface of the moon early Saturday, but it wasn’t immediately clear if the landing was a success, because the Japanese space agency said it was still "checking its status." More details about the spacecraft, which is carrying no astronauts, would be given at a news conference, officials

The agency said it is currently receiving a signal from the lander, which is communicating as expected.