Japan became the fifth country in history to reach the moon when the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon, or SLIM, touched down on the Moon early on Saturday. Improved accuracy would give scientists access to more of the moon, since probes could be placed nearer to obstacles. One of the lander's main engines lost thrust about 50 meters (54 yards) above the moon surface, causing a harder landing than planned. For the pinpoint landing, Sakai said, he would give SLIM a “perfect score.”“We demonstrated that we can land where we want,” Sakai said. Japan followed the United States, the Soviet Union, China and India to reach the moon surface.

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Persons: Smart, SLIM, touchtown, Shinichiro Sakai, ”, Sakai, ” “, ” Sakai, “, ” LEV, toymaker Tomy, LEV, Daichi Hirano Organizations: TOKYO, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, JAXA, Sony, Doshisha University, Mitsubishi Locations: Japan, United States, Soviet Union, China, India, Japanese