Japanese Spacecraft Enters Lunar Orbit in Historic Step Toward Moon Landing
On Christmas Day, Japan’s robotic SLIM moon lander achieved a significant milestone by entering lunar orbit, bringing the nation one step closer to its first-ever moon landing. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) confirmed the successful insertion of the spacecraft into lunar orbit as planned, marking a historic moment for Japan’s space exploration efforts.
SLIM, officially known as the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon, arrived in lunar orbit at 4:51 p.m. Japan Standard Time on December 25, 2023. The spacecraft is in an elliptical orbit that takes 6.4 hours to circle the moon, reaching as close as 373 miles and as far as 2,485 miles from the lunar surface.
This achievement paves the way for SLIM’s upcoming attempt at a lunar touchdown on January 19. If successful, Japan will join the elite group of nations, including the Soviet Union, the U.S., China, and India, that have accomplished a soft-landing on the moon.
The 8.8-foot-long SLIM launched on September 6 along with the XRISM X-ray space telescope and embarked on a long journey to the moon. The spacecraft will now begin preparations for its groundbreaking touchdown attempt, aiming for a landing accuracy of 330 feet or less.
JAXA officials described SLIM as a mission to research pinpoint landing technology necessary for future lunar probes, emphasizing the importance of being able to land precisely on celestial bodies for exploration and resource utilization.
In addition to its touchdown attempt, SLIM is also set to deploy two miniprobes onto the lunar surface, furthering the mission’s exploration goals and contributing to ongoing lunar research efforts.
While SLIM isn’t the first Japanese spacecraft to reach lunar orbit, its successful insertion marks a significant step forward for Japan’s space exploration ambitions. The nation has previously achieved lunar orbit with the Hiten probe in 1990 and the SELENE (Kaguya) mission in 2007.
Despite the challenges and risks associated with lunar exploration, Japan’s SLIM mission represents a significant leap forward in the nation’s efforts to expand its presence in space and contribute to the exploration of the moon.