ABC News reports “Japan became the fifth country in history to reach the moon” when one of its uncrewed spacecrafts “successfully made a soft landing on the lunar surface early Saturday.” Japan’s Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) touched down within the Shioli crater at 10:20 a.m. Eastern, Jan. 19 (12:20 a.m. JST, Jan. 20). JAXA confirmed the successful landing approximately two hours later. Japanese space officials “said the craft’s solar panel had failed to generate power, which could shorten its activity on the moon.” Japan joins the US, China, the Soviet Union, and India as all having made it to the lunar surface.
Full Story (ABC News)
Tag: to Land
Beta’s Alia CX300 Makes First Electric Flight into New York City Airport
Aviation International News reports, “Beta Technologies’ Alia CX300 on Tuesday [became] the first all-electric aircraft to land at a New York City airport … One of Beta’s prototypes landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport (KJFK) after a passenger-carrying demonstration flight with a pilot and four passengers, including Blade Air Mobility CEO Rob Wiesenthal and Republic Airways president Matt Koscal. According to Beta, the energy cost for the 45-minute flight was just $7 compared with what it estimated as $160 in fuel costs for a helicopter making the same trip. The Alia flew at 135 knots, operating under a market survey ticket that the FAA issued.”
Full Story (Aviation International News)