TOKYO, September 7 – Japan has successfully initiated its lunar exploration mission by launching the spacecraft aboard a domestically developed H-IIA rocket, with the aspiration of becoming the fifth nation in the world to achieve a moon landing in early 2023.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) confirmed that the rocket lifted off as planned from the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan, successfully deploying the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM). Inclement weather had led to three postponements within the past week.
Known as the “moon sniper,” Japan’s mission for SLIM is to accomplish a landing within 100 meters of its designated lunar target. This $100-million mission is set to initiate its landing process by February, following an extensive and fuel-efficient approach trajectory.
JAXA President Hiroshi Yamakawa explained during a press conference, “SLIM’s primary objective is to demonstrate high-precision landing… to achieve ‘landing where we want’ on the lunar surface, rather than ‘landing where we can’.”
This launch occurred just two weeks after India made history as the fourth nation to successfully land a spacecraft on the moon through its Chandrayaan-3 mission, which targeted the uncharted lunar south pole. Simultaneously, Russia’s Luna-25 lander experienced a crash while approaching the moon.
Japan has previously encountered two unsuccessful lunar landing attempts within the past year. The OMOTENASHI lander lost communication with JAXA and was unable to execute its landing in November. In April, the Hakuto-R Mission 1 lander, created by Japanese startup ispace (9348.T), met a similar fate when it crashed while attempting to descend to the lunar surface.
SLIM is slated for a landing on the near side of the moon, in proximity to Mare Nectaris, a lunar sea distinguished by its dark appearance when observed from Earth. The primary focus of this mission is to evaluate advanced optical and image processing technology.
Following its landing, the spacecraft is tasked with analyzing the composition of olivine rocks near the landing sites, seeking clues about the moon’s origin. It’s important to note that SLIM is not equipped with a lunar rover.
In addition to SLIM, Thursday’s H-IIA rocket also transported the X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM) satellite, a collaborative project involving JAXA, NASA, and the European Space Agency. This satellite aims to observe plasma winds coursing through the universe, considered crucial for comprehending the evolution of stars and galaxies.
The rocket, manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (7011.T) and launched by the same company, marked Japan’s 47th H-IIA rocket launch since 2001, elevating the rocket’s success rate to nearly 98%.
JAXA had previously postponed the launch of the H-IIA rocket carrying SLIM for several months while investigating the failure of its new medium-lift H3 rocket during its inaugural flight in March.
Japan’s space missions have encountered recent setbacks, including the launch failure of the Epsilon small rocket in October 2022, followed by an engine explosion during a test in July.
The nation’s future aspirations include sending an astronaut to the moon’s surface in the latter half of the 2020s, as part of NASA’s Artemis program. Also learn about Mars Helicopter Ingenuity Marks 1 Year of Surprising Success.
