The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) announced on the 22nd that the ultra-small probe "OMOTENASHI", which cannot communicate with the ground, has given up on the moon landing. It was originally aiming to be the first Japanese probe to achieve this feat. Since the solar cell on one side of the body faces away from the sun and fails to function, its attitude and orbit cannot be corrected through ground communication.
In order to solve the communication failure, JAXA considered drastically changing the original plan to land on the moon at a speed of more than 180 kilometers per hour. The timing of the moon landing was postponed. As of the early morning of the 22nd, attempts to restore communication failed, and the plan had to be abandoned.
In the future, the solar cells of the probe may play a role in restoring communication, but since the opportunity to enter the lunar orbit has been missed, there will be no attempt to land on the moon again.
The probe was launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA on the 16th. The body was separated from the rocket and flew to the moon, but the solar cells were not functioning and could not be charged. 8x speed rotation. JAXA Usuda Cosmos and Space Observatory (Saku City, Nagano Prefecture) and others have tried to establish communication and control posture with it.
