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Japan’s “Moon Sniper” spacecraft has landed on the moon, the first successful moon landing for Japan.
The Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) spacecraft, or “Moon Sniper”, landed at about 12:20 a.m. Japan time on Saturday.
Unfortunately, there is a problem with the lunar lander’s power supply. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) also needs more time to check if the spacecraft landed exactly where planned.
Hitoshi Kuninaka, from the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, said that SLIM’s solar battery was not making power and the battery could only last a few hours. Now, they want to collect as much information as possible before the battery runs out.
Kuninaka said that SLIM landed very accurately, within 100 meters of the target. That is better than the usual accuracy of several kilometers. JAXA will need about a month to make sure this information is correct.
Japan is now the fifth country to successfully land a spacecraft on the moon after the Soviet Union, the United States, China, and India.
Japan’s landing technology is new and important for exploring the moon. It will be useful for landing in difficult places where there might be oxygen, fuel and water.
JAXA is also working with NASA’s Artemis program and plans to send an astronaut to the moon. The agency is also working with India to send a spacecraft to the moon in 2025.
SLIM also brought a robot called SORA-Q to the moon. It was made by JAXA and toy company Takar Tomy which made the original Transformers toys.
Vocabulary
- Sniper – A skilled person who shoots precisely/accurately from a distance/far away;
- Spacecraft – A vehicle designed/made for space travel, like a satellite or a spaceship
- Land – to come down from the air/sky and touch the ground;
- Lunar – relating to the Moon; something in connection to or from the Moon
- Lunar lander – A special vehicle made to land on the moon
- Power supply – The thing that gives something electricity, like batteries or a plug; The thing that gives something electricity, like batteries or a plug
- Check – to carefully look at; To examine or inspect something closely; to confirm
- Exactly – In a perfect way, without any mistakes; Precisely or right on target;
- Solar – of or related to the sun; produced by or coming from the sun
- Power – to produce or give energy/electricity to something
- Last – to continue to exist; to continue for a period of time;
- Collect – bring together; gather; take in
- Run out of – to use up all of the supply; to have no more; exhaust; consume all of; to be out of
- Accurately – correctly; exactly
- Target – The thing that someone is trying to hit or reach; The specific place or thing aimed at; 🎯
- Several – some; more than 2, but not many
- Make sure – To ensure or double-check that something is done correctly or as planned
- Explore – to go and discover new places, things, or ideas
- Useful – Something that is helpful or has value; Something that can be used for a good purpose
- Oxygen – A gas that we need to breathe in order to live; O;
- Fuel – a source of energy; something that is used to provide heat or power, usually by being burned, for example coal, wood, oil, etc.
- Astronaut – a person who is trained to travel in space
- Agency – an organization, company, or department that provides a service; bureau
- Original – the first one made and not a copy; the origin or beginning;
Quiz
Discussion Questions
- Why do you think an accurate landing is important for a spacecraft?
- Do you think space exploration is important for humans? Why or why not?
- Why do you think a toy company helped make the robot SORA-Q for the moon mission?
- How do you feel about countries like the USA, India and Japan working together to explore space?
- English teachers looking for teaching ideas, check out my post on using easy news articles for lessons.
- English learners looking for study ideas, check out my post on using news stories for English practice.
Original Story
Fill-in-the-Blank Listening Practice
Japan’s “Moon Sniper” _____ has landed on the moon, the first successful moon landing for _____.
The Smart Lander for Investigating _____ (SLIM) spacecraft, or “Moon Sniper”, landed at about _____ a.m. Japan time on Saturday.
Unfortunately, there is a _____ with the lunar lander’s power supply. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) also _____ more time to check if the spacecraft landed exactly where _____.
Hitoshi Kuninaka, from the Institute of _____ and Astronautical Science, said that SLIM’s solar battery was not _____ power and the battery could only last a few hours. Now, they want to _____ as much information as possible before the battery runs _____.
Kuninaka said that SLIM landed very _____, within 100 meters of the target. That is better than the usual accuracy of several _____. JAXA will need about a month to make sure this _____ is correct.
Japan is now the fifth country to successfully _____ a spacecraft on the moon after the Soviet Union, the United States, _____, and India.
Japan’s landing technology is new and _____ for exploring the moon. It will be useful for landing in difficult places where there might be oxygen, _____ and water.
JAXA is also working with NASA’s Artemis _____ and plans to send an astronaut to the moon. The agency is also working with India to _____ a spacecraft to the moon in _____.
SLIM also brought a robot _____ SORA-Q to the moon. It was made by JAXA and toy company Takar Tomy which made the _____ Transformers toys.
