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Japan's space agency's news conference has come to an end. 

During the hour and a half update, we learnt that SLIM has made contact with Earth but that its solar cells are not functioning.

This means the spacecraft has to operate on a low battery mode to conserve power. 

At the moment, its precise location is unknown and work is still being done to extract more detailed data. 

JAXA did say there would be another news conference next week, which will hopefully include the release of more information collected by the craft. 

That's all from our live coverage on the SLIM mission for today. 

You can scroll down to read about the lunar landing as it happened, or check out our latest science and technology stories here.

Prior to SLIM landing on the lunar surface, it had been orbiting the moon and its solar cells were working, an official at Japan's space agency says. 

Hitoshi Kuninaka says there was "no warning" issued by the spacecraft before it landed. 

"I do believe the solar cell was functioning well, and so the issue occurred after landing," he adds. 

As we have been reporting, the solar cells on SLIM have not been working, meaning the craft is now operating on a low battery mode. 

Hitoshi Kuninaka has said there is a chance the cells will start working as the direction of sunlight changes. 

When asked about how long the mission will last if that happens, he says a "few days" would be deemed a "good enough" outcome for the space agency. 

He explains that during the day, the moon can reach 100C and the equipment can only last so long in that kind of heat. 

The panel is now asked about what technology it would like to develop going forward. 

Hitoshi Kuninaka says Japan's space agency would like to increase the accuracy of its soft landings, adding that "many difficult challenges" need to be overcome.

"Our landing technology should become more accurate and precise," he adds.

The first image of SLIM was due to be released four hours after it landed - roughly 7.20pm UK time. 

But the panel says the original plan can "no longer go ahead" due to the problem with the solar cells.

Hitoshi Kuninaka says it is possible SLIM has collected some data. 

"Some moon images may be shared with you. I believe that we will be able to make some data available in due course," he adds. 

By Tom Clarke, science and technology editor

Until we get another update from JAXA it's impossible to know what might have gone wrong with the SLIM lander.

However, there was an indication in the news conference that power problems could be because the solar cells aren't orientated correctly.

One potential cause of that is that SLIM landed the wrong way up.

One of the design choices was for the probe to touch down on two shock absorbing feet and then flop down like a domino onto its other feet. 

A problem at the moment of landing, or with the slope of terrain on which it landed could have led to the lander toppling the wrong way leaving the solar cells pointing at the ground rather than the AG百家乐在线官网.

More data, and hopefully an image of the landing would tell the mission engineers more, but given their need to ration power it's likely to be a week before we know more.

Now the panel are asked whether they were able to immediately confirm whether the landing was made.

Hitoshi Kuninaka says by looking at the realtime monitor they were able to "identify and recognise a landing was made".

"Even after that, the signals continued to be sent so we were certain that the soft landing was successful," he says.

Mr Kuninaka says after the landing "all sorts of checks took place", including checking the temperature and pressure of the equipment.

The SLIM mission has made "minimum success" by landing on the moon, officials said earlier, so why do they look so miserable? 

That's the question one reporter has just put to the panel. 

Hitoshi Kuninaka responds by saying it is "somewhat concerning" that SLIM's solar cells are not working. 

Another official says the agency still doesn't have "full visibility", so it's unclear what the next step will be. 

"There are many steps forward. If we had already made them, then we would be happier," he adds. 

The panel are asked about the solar cells on the spacecraft and whether any electricity is being generated at all.

Hitoshi Kuninaka says "they cannot quantify this" at the moment.

"Having said that, we understand that there is no electricity being generated," he says.

"There is not enough electricity for continuing activities."

By Tom Clarke, science and technology editor

I think it's fair to say Japan has made history in becoming the fifth nation to achieve a "soft" landing on the Moon.

JAXA is communicating with its lander and one of its rovers so their machines are intact and functioning.

But it's already clear something went seriously wrong.

The probe isn't receiving power from its solar cells so they're relying solely on a batteries which had 74% of their full charge on landing.

That means they will have limited time to understand what has gone wrong and if there is any way of fixing it. 

They will also have to carefully ration what data they chose to download. Each transmission will cost them valuable and limited power.