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Japan’s “Moon Sniper” craft successfully landed on the Moon.
The country’s Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) used vision-based navigation (hence its nickname) to help it land on Friday. Ars Technica has a detailed explanation for how this all worked, while a translated video published on The Independent’s YouTube channel offers insight, as well.
Unfortunately, the craft’s solar panels malfunctioned, leaving it with only hours of battery left. A disappointing facet of the story. In the meantime, please enjoy this perfectly 80s arcade-style logo from Moon Sniper’s press materials (PDF).
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