Japan takes the H2-A rocket to successfully launch a Moon lander

On September 7, the H2-A rocket carrying the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) successfully launched, marking an important turning point in Japan space research path.

The launch, which had initially delayed three times because of bad weather, finally happened at 8.42am local time from Tanegashima in southern Japan.

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This mission’s main goal is for SLIM to land precisely within 100 meters of a predetermined location on the surface of the Moon. The precise landing represents a significant improvement over earlier lunar landings, which frequently occurred miles away from their targeted locations. According to JAXA, Japan’s space agency, this accomplishment may one day make it possible to arrive on planets with even fewer resources.

A research satellite created jointly by JAXA, NASA, and the European Space Agency also carried during the launch. The X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM) satellite will carry out high-resolution X-ray spectroscopic studies to learn more about the composition and evolution of astronomical objects, as well as the flow of mass and energy.

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Challenges have encountered in Japan’s earlier lunar mission attempts, such as the Omotenashi lunar probe’s aborted mission last year. With this successful launch, Japan joins China, the United States, India, and Russia as the only countries capable of sending a spacecraft to the moon’s surface. This represents a significant advancement for Japan’s space program. Notably, India accomplished this accomplishment last month by a landing craft close to the Moon’s south pole.

Japan is well-position to contribute significantly to lunar exploration. And possibly deepen our understanding of heavenly bodies thanks to SLIM’s capability for accurate landing.