Since the spacecraft was not upright, its solar cells were unable to generate power, forcing the spacecraft to stop operating shortly after landing. The space agency said Thursday that it is still possible for the spacecraft to begin generating power once sunlight is shifted into position to illuminate the cells.
However, two small probes were deployed, and one of them sent back an image of the spacecraft on the moon's surface.
The Japanese spacecraft, known as SLIM, or Smart Lander for Investigating Moon, is about the size of a delivery truck and is designed to use cameras and sensors to make a precise landing.
Despite the engine failure, the landing was a historic achievement for a country aiming to build its capabilities in space. It made Japan the fifth country – after the United States, the Soviet Union, China and India – to softly land a rover on the moon.
In a press release, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said that at an altitude of 50 meters, or just over 160 feet, “propulsion from one of the two main engines was most likely lost.” The spacecraft attempted to control its horizontal position independently, but its lateral velocity was not what the spacecraft was designed to handle, resulting in it ending up on its side.
However, the spacecraft was able to land about 180 feet east of its landing site, achieving a precision landing, one of the mission's main goals.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said in the statement that it was investigating the apparent malfunction in the engine.
The mission came just days after a failed lunar landing attempt by a Pittsburgh company that worked in partnership with NASA. The spacecraft, developed by Astrobotic, began leaking fuel shortly after launching from its rocket on its way to the moon, preventing it from reaching the surface. But it traveled into the depths of space, giving the company valuable data that it intends to use on future missions.
Next month, Intuitive Machines, an aerospace company based in Houston, plans to make a landing attempt of its own. If successful, it will be the first American mission in more than 50 years to softly land on the moon, as well as the first commercial vehicle to land on the moon.
