JAXA UPDATE ON SLIM LUNAR LANDING MISSION, Jan 25, 2024, 12:00-1:30 am ET (14:00-15:30 JST)

Update, January 24, 11:30 pm ET.   JAXA’s Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) says the press conference will only be in Japanese.  However, they will post English-language material on their website.

There will be a press briefing on the SLIM lunar landing from 14:00 JST today. While the briefing will be only in Japanese, please check the ISAS website for English material: https://t.co/fXVPUyHBpv https://t.co/2LenHGT2Vg

— JAXA Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (@ISAS_JAXA_EN) January 25, 2024

Original Entry: The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) will hold a press conference on January 25, 2024 to provide an update on the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM).  The briefing is scheduled for 14:00-15:30 Japan Standard Time, which is 12:00-1:30 am Eastern Standard Time (14 hours earlier).

It will be broadcast on JAXA’s YouTube channel.

SLIM successfully landed on the Moon on January 19 EST (January 20 in Japan), but the solar cells did not provide power to the lander so it could function only as long as the battery lasted.  The lander apparently set down in an incorrect attitude and the solar cells are not pointing toward the sun. JAXA is hoping that when the sun angle changes, power might be restored.

JAXA also is analyzing data to determine if they met their main objective of landing within 100 meters of the designated point.

1/25(木) 14:00～ライブ配信????
「小型月着陸実証機（SLIM）の月面着陸の結果・成果等にかかる記者会見」を配信いたします。
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2024年1月25日(木) 14:00頃～ 配信（予定）
※配信時間は変更となる場合がございます。#JAXA #SLIM #小型月着陸実証機https://t.co/vNOl7Xna8N https://t.co/itM51Ay7aL pic.twitter.com/7s97SY53Q8

— JAXA（宇宙航空研究開発機構） (@JAXA_jp) January 22, 2024