If successful, Japan will become the fifth country after Russia, the United States, China, and India to have a spacecraft successfully land on the Moon.
Japan’s SLIM spacecraft – (Photo: JAXA)
According to a press release from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) issued on October 2, JAXA’s SLIM spacecraft has had a successful journey following its maneuvering engine ignition on September 30, flying over the Atlantic Ocean and then heading into space towards Earth’s only natural satellite.
Previously, SLIM launched on September 6 alongside the powerful X-ray telescope named XRISM. It spent some time operating in Earth’s orbit, being calibrated before proceeding to its main mission.
“After carrying out all necessary troubleshooting operations, we plan to have our first ‘meeting’ with the Moon on the afternoon of October 4” – reported the SLIM team to Space.
The encounter of SLIM is merely a close flyby of the Moon. The SLIM spacecraft will spend 3-4 months in lunar orbit before attempting to land on this celestial body.
If successful, Japan will become the fifth country after Russia, the United States, China, and India to have a spacecraft successfully land on the Moon.
SLIM is nicknamed “the Moon sniper” due to its ambitious landing plan, aiming to touch down within just 100 meters of the small impact crater Shioli. Achieving such precise landing in a small area on another celestial body is extremely challenging and requires accuracy akin to that of a sniper.
