Japanese Lunar Lander Leaves Earth Orbit and Heads Towards the Moon
On September 30, 2023, the Japanese lunar lander Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) successfully left Earth orbit and began its journey to the moon. The spacecraft fired its main engine for 39 seconds, while it was flying about 410 miles (660 kilometers) above the South Atlantic Ocean.
SLIM is a small, lightweight lander that is designed to demonstrate new technologies for soft landing on the moon. It is also carrying a suite of scientific instruments to study the lunar surface and environment.
If all goes according to plan, SLIM will have its first encounter with the moon on October 4, 2023. It will then enter a lunar orbit and begin preparations for landing. The landing is scheduled for sometime between January and February 2024.
A successful landing by SLIM would make Japan the fifth country to successfully soft land a spacecraft on the moon, after the United States, the Soviet Union, China, and India. It would also be a major milestone in Japan's space program.
SLIM's mission is expected to last for about two months. During that time, it will conduct a variety of experiments, including:
- Studying the lunar surface and exosphere
- Conducting high-resolution imaging of the moon
- Demonstrating new technologies for soft landing
- Testing new methods of communication and navigation
- The data collected by SLIM is expected to help scientists learn more about the moon and its environment. It will also help Japan develop new technologies for future lunar missions.
SLIM's launch is the latest sign of Japan's growing interest in lunar exploration. The country is also developing a new lunar exploration program called Artemis, in collaboration with the United States and other international partners. Artemis aims to land the first woman and the next man on the moon by 2025, and to establish a sustainable human presence on the moon by the end of the decade.
SLIM's mission is an important step towards achieving these goals. It will help Japan demonstrate its capabilities in lunar exploration and pave the way for future Japanese missions to the moon.