Japan's lunar exploration spacecraft enters orbit

It has been reported that the "SLIM" lunar lander belonging to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has entered the moon's orbit.

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Japan's lunar exploration spacecraft enters orbit

In a statement, JAXA updated information regarding the space journey of the "Smart Lander for Investigating Moon" (SLIM).

It was reported that the SLIM vehicle, nicknamed "Moon Sniper," successfully entered lunar orbit at the beginning of the week.

The statement noted, "The orbit change proceeded as planned, and there is nothing unusual about the probe's condition." It was stated that the lander's descent toward the moon is expected to begin on January 20.

'AN UNPRECEDENTEDLY HIGH-PRECISION LANDING WILL BE ACHIEVED ON THE MOON'

The H2A rocket carrying SLIM was launched into space at the end of September from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima, in the southwest. JAXA had previously announced that the SLIM vehicle is expected to achieve an "unprecedentedly high-precision landing" on the moon.

The 700-kilogram lander, manufactured by Mitsubishi Electric, is 2.4 meters high and 2.7 meters wide. SLIM will be able to move on the lunar surface via a spherical probe it carries that is slightly larger than a tennis ball.

The observations and data regarding the moon that Japan will obtain will be used in the "Artemis" project, which is being led by the US.

News Source: AA