SLIM landed on the Moon on January 20, 2024
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) shared a historic photo – the first image of the lunar module SLIM, which was taken by the miniature lunar rover LEV-2 (SORA-Q) after landing.
The image was transmitted using the LEV-1 robot. The photo shows the SLIM module after landing. JAXA also confirmed that communication between LEV-1 and LEV-2 is functioning normally.
Kintaro Toyama, chairman and representative of the Japanese toy company Takara Tomy, which developed the LEV-2 in collaboration with JAXA, Sony and Doshisha University, said:
With this, SORA-Q became the first Japanese robot to land on the moon and take pictures. This success was made possible thanks to everyone involved and everyone who supported us as we realized our dreams together.
SLIM landed on the Moon on January 20, 2024, making Japan the fifth country ever to soft-land on the Moon.