On Christmas Day, December 25, Japan's Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) space probe achieved a crucial milestone, entering the Moon's orbit, bringing Japan closer to its first lunar landing anticipated next month.
The recent achievement of the SLIM space probe, affectionately known as the "Moon Sniper" for its precision, signifies a substantial advancement towards a momentous lunar touchdown.
Japan's SLIM Aims for Precision Lunar Landing
The Moon Sniper has a unique goal-to land within a mere 100 meters of a predetermined target on the lunar surface. Successful execution of this mission would elevate Japan as the fifth nation to achieve a lunar probe landing, joining the ranks of the United States, Russia, China, and India.
On Monday, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) reported SLIM's triumphant entry into the Moon's orbit at 04:51 pm Japan time, marking a crucial advancement towards its imminent historic lunar touchdown.
JAXA affirmed that the spacecraft's trajectory shift unfolded as planned, with no irregularities detected in SLIM's conditions. The next significant phase involves the lander's descent toward the moon, slated to commence at 12:00 am Japan time on January 20, culminating in a landing just 20 minutes later.
The mission, characterized as an "unprecedentedly high precision landing," anticipates achieving remarkable accuracy, a feat made possible by technological advancements and a 20-year research effort.
Equipped with a spherical probe developed in collaboration with a toy company, the SLIM lander boasts unique capabilities, slightly larger than a tennis ball, enabling it to alter its shape for movement on the lunar surface.
JAXA emphasizes that SLIM's margin of error, under 100 meters, sets a new standard for precision, contrasting with previous probes that landed several or more kilometers away from their targets. This achievement reflects the evolving demand for precise lunar exploration, with a focus on pinpointing specific features such as craters and rocks, signaling a shift from generalized lunar exploration.
Shinichiro Sakai, JAXA's SLIM project manager, highlighted the changing landscape in lunar exploration, emphasizing that technology advancements have elevated expectations beyond exploring arbitrary locations on the moon. The mission's success would not only contribute to scientific knowledge but also showcase Japan's prowess in achieving unprecedented precision in space exploration.
More About Japan's Precision Lunar Lander
Japan's SLIM space probe is a compact lunar exploration lander with a specific focus on pinpoint landings, reducing equipment size and weight, and investigating the Moon's origins. This mission also tests technology crucial for exploring low-gravity environments, essential for future solar system scientific investigations.
Launched on September 6, 2023, aboard a H-IIA rocket, SLIM adopted an innovative trajectory, making a lunar flyby instead of a direct route, imaging the Moon on October 4. The spacecraft's unique course allows for significant fuel, mass, and cost savings.
With an estimated cost of 18 billion yen ($120 million), SLIM aims to land within 100 meters of its target, showcasing Japan's precision in lunar exploration.
The target landing site, the rim of Shioli crater, presents an opportunity for SLIM to facilitate easier sampling of lunar permafrost, contributing to understanding water resources on the Moon. Despite previous mission failures, SLIM signifies Japan's commitment to advancing space exploration technology and making significant strides in lunar exploration precision.
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