Prime Minister Kishida says ``very happy news'' about successful moon landing

Japan successfully landed on the moon on the 20th, and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced on social media that it was ``very happy news.'' On this day, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida posted on X (former Twitter), ``Small lunar landing demonstration vehicle
SLIM's solar cells are not generating power and a detailed analysis is required, but I think it is very welcome news that it has landed on the moon." Continuing, “Seki”
I would like to express my respect to everyone involved for their efforts thus far, and will continue to support them as they take on further challenges."
"SLIM" was launched by H2A rocket 4 from Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture on September 7th last year.
It was mounted on Unit 7 and launched. Approximately 15 billion yen was invested in the development of SLIM. At around 12:20 a.m. that day, the spacecraft successfully landed on the surface of the moon near its equator.
However, since the solar cells did not generate electricity, the aircraft began operating with batteries installed on the aircraft. Japan is the fifth country in the world to successfully land on the moon, following the United States, the former Soviet Union, China, and India.
became. Prior to this, in November 2022, Japan sent the micro probe "Omotenashi" aboard the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket of the U.S. "Artemis I" mission.
Communication was interrupted. The lunar lander developed by the private company iSpace failed in April last year.