Japan’s SLIM Moon Lander “Moon Sniper” Reaches Lunar Orbit, Gears Up for Historic Landing

Japan’s SLIM moon lander achieved a significant milestone by entering lunar orbit on Christmas Day. The 8.8-foot-long spacecraft is set to attempt a historic lunar touchdown on January 19, aiming for precise landing technology advancements. Success could open doors for more ambitious exploration efforts and resource-scarce planetary landings in the future.

AT A GLANCE

Japanese Moon Landing Attempt: Japan’s SLIM moon lander successfully entered lunar orbit on December 25, 2023, marking a significant step towards Japan’s first-ever moon landing.
Precise Lunar Orbit: SLIM is in an elliptical lunar orbit, taking 6.4 hours to circle the moon. It comes within 373 miles (600 km) of the lunar surface at its closest point and extends to 2,485 miles (4,000 km) at its farthest.
Historic Milestone: SLIM moon lander is set to attempt a lunar touchdown on January 19, aiming to become the fifth entity in history — after the Soviet Union, the U.S., China, and India — to soft-land a spacecraft on the moon.
Mission Background: Launched on September 6 alongside the XRISM X-ray space telescope, SLIM embarked on an energy-efficient journey to the moon, reaching lunar orbit on December 25.
Pinpoint Landing Technology: SLIM’s mission is to research and demonstrate pinpoint landing technology essential for future lunar probes. The spacecraft, nicknamed “Moon Sniper,” aims for landing-zone accuracy of 330 feet (100 m) or less.
Extended Exploration Goals: The success of SLIM’s mission could pave the way for more ambitious exploration efforts, allowing humans to land on resource-scarce planets. Additionally, SLIM plans to deploy two miniprobes on the lunar surface to capture photos and facilitate direct communication with Earth.

SLIM Moon Lander is a small-scale exploration lander designed for pinpoint landings on the Moon’s surface, reduction in the size and weight of equipment used in Moon landings, and investigation into the Moon’s origins. It will also test technology fundamental to exploration in low-gravity environments, an important requirement for future scientific investigation of the solar system. (Image Credit: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency)

Christmas Wish Granted: SLIM Moon Lander in Lunar Orbit!

On December 25th, Japan made a giant leap towards its first-ever moon landing. The nation’s robotic “Moon Sniper,” officially known as the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM), successfully entered lunar orbit. This marks a crucial milestone in the mission, paving the way for a potential touchdown on January 19th, 2024.

A Journey to Remember:

SLIM’s journey began on September 6th, 2023, when it launched alongside XRISM, a powerful X-ray space telescope. While XRISM remains in Earth orbit, SLIM moon lander embarked on a long, energy-saving journey to the moon. On September 30th, it broke free of Earth’s gravity and began its trek towards our celestial neighbor.

The H-IIA rocket carrying the national space agency’s moon lander is launched on the island of Tanegashima, Japan, in September. Photo: Kyodo via Reuters — *The H-IIA rocket carrying the national space agency’s moon lander is launched on the island of Tanegashima, Japan, in September 2023. Photo: Kyodo via Reuters*

Orbiting the Moon:

After a long and meticulous journey, SLIM finally achieved lunar orbit on Christmas Day. Now, it circles the moon in an elliptical path, taking 6.4 hours to complete one lap. At its closest, SLIM comes within 373 miles (600 km) of the lunar surface, while its farthest point is 2,485 miles (4,000 km) away.

Aiming for Precision:

SLIM’s landing attempt, scheduled for January 19th, aims to be historic. If successful, it will make Japan only the fifth nation to achieve a soft landing on the moon. Living up to its “Moon Sniper” nickname, SLIM moon lander “Moon Sniper” will attempt a remarkably precise landing, aiming for a target zone with an accuracy of 330 feet (100 meters) or less. This precision paves the way for even more ambitious lunar exploration in the future.

Beyond Landing:

SLIM’s mission goes beyond just touching down. It serves as a test bed for future lunar probes, aiming to refine pinpoint landing technology. Additionally, it will deploy two mini-probes after landing. These “daughter craft” will take photos, monitor SLIM’s status, and provide an independent communication system with Earth, ensuring a constant flow of information.

Not the First, But a Stepping Stone:

While SLIM moon lander isn’t the first Japanese spacecraft to reach lunar orbit (Hiten in 1990 and SELENE/Kaguya in 2007 did that), it represents a significant leap forward in Japan’s space exploration ambitions. Hakuto-R, a privately built lander, also reached lunar orbit earlier this year but unfortunately crashed during its landing attempt. SLIM hopes to learn from these predecessors and achieve what they couldn’t, paving the way for a new era of Japanese lunar exploration.

The Future Beckons:

With SLIM moon lander “Moon Sniper” now in lunar orbit, the countdown to a potential historic landing has begun. The success of this mission will not only be a triumph for Japan but also a significant step forward for lunar exploration as a whole. As we watch SLIM gear up for its touchdown attempt, one thing is certain: the future of lunar exploration is looking bright, with Japan aiming to be at the forefront of this exciting new chapter.

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Source(s): Yahoo News
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