Japanese moon lander

[Rocket J Squrriel]

Japan has become one of the very few countries to successfully, at least partially, on the moon. Only partially because the solar panels failed for some unknown reason.

They have the reason now after two mini rovers that were released showed pictures of the lander.



Yes, it landed upside down!

One of the two descent engines failed and it executed a 180. It did it just above the surface and the landing velocity was such that it wasn't damage. Just that the solar cells don't work. Japan is pleased since the mission met all the goals including how well they built it.

[jemhouston]

That's almost as bad as NASA mixing up English and Metric and having Mars lander run out of fuel before it landed.

[Demon Lord Razgriz]

To be fair, the -X engine nozzle blew out 50m above the surface, and the craft adapted on the fly to come down on just the +X engine. The craft was meant to land on its side, but for some reason it messed up right at the last second and tilted over too soon.

So nowhere near as bad as that failed NASA mission, this actually made it down!

[jemhouston]

To be fair, the -X engine nozzle blew out 50m above the surface, and the craft adapted on the fly to come down on just the +X engine. The craft was meant to land on its side, but for some reason it messed up right at the last second and tilted over too soon.

So nowhere near as bad as that failed NASA mission, this actually made it down!

The NASA made it down also, down in about 600 pieces.

[Poohbah]

It'll buff out!