A major advancement in lunar exploration has been made with the creation of the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
Japan is about to become a member of the elite group of countries that have successfully completed lunar landings. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is scheduled to land the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) on the moon on January 20, 2024. This project not only marks a significant milestone in Japan’s space exploration endeavors but also offers a remarkable opportunity to further lunar science.
Launched on September 6, 2023, by means of the H-IIA rocket, SLIM represents a noteworthy progression in lunar exploration technology. The main goal of this mission is to demonstrate the possibility of extremely accurate landings, a skill that has the potential to increase the scientific relevance of future lunar missions. The lander’s chosen landing zone is the rim of Shioli crater, where it will attempt to touchdown with exceptional precision. Its goal is to land within 100 meters from its intended location, a first for lunar exploration.
SLIM is scheduled to launch two rovers, each displaying state-of-the-art mobility equipment, after its successful landing. LEV-1 will perform nimble hopping actions throughout the lunar surface, while LEV-2—which looks like a ball that is slightly smaller than a tennis ball—will roll over the surface while taking informative pictures. The lander itself is outfitted with a variety of scientific tools designed to enable a thorough examination of the surrounding lunar terrain, which supports the rover’s operations.
The selected SLIM landing site near Shioli crater is believed to reveal the Moon’s mantle, offering an unrivaled opportunity to explore the origins of Earth and the Moon. The success of SLIM has the potential to provide significant new understandings of lunar history and to solve puzzles regarding the presence of water resources, which is essential for the construction of lunar bases in the future.
If this mission is successful, it will be a significant turning point in Japan’s space program and an important contribution to the global effort to explore the moon and even launch commercial ventures there.
