The Japanese lunar lander mission known as Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) has successfully passed its first critical period in Earth orbit. Photo/JAXA/Space
TOKYO – Lunar lander mission Japan known as the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) has successfully passed the first critical period in Earth orbit. In this phase, all SLIM features, such as solar panels, communications, propulsion, and other systems function properly.
SLIM Mission or Smart Lander for Investigation Moon launched on September 6, 2023 to demonstrate a highly accurate soft landing on the Moon. Teams on the ground have been working to verify the function of the spacecraft.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) announced that on September 14 the SLIM mission had passed its first critical operational period. This means the solar panels, communications, propulsion, and other systems are working properly.
“SLIM is now in the Earth orbit phase and will spend approximately 20 days continuing to verify the function of the equipment on board. “Then prepare to be put into lunar transfer orbit,” JAXA said as quoted by SINDOnews from the Space page, Thursday (21/9/2023).
JAXA published SLIM optical observations on September 12, when the spacecraft was about 37,300 miles or 60,000 kilometers away from Earth. The XRISM X-ray observatory launched into low Earth orbit on the same H-2A rocket as SLIM is shown in a separate image.
The SLIM path to the moon requires a longer journey than usual so it will pass through the moon and circle back. This allows the spacecraft to perform smaller burns to enter lunar orbit, thereby saving fuel and spacecraft mass.
After entering orbit in a few months, the probe will be ready to demonstrate a “proper” lunar landing. It said the accuracy was much higher than that achieved by previous international missions.
In this case, SLIM aims to land within 330 feet or 100 meters from the target point in Shioli Crater. If successful, SLIM’s technology and architecture could lead to even bolder lunar and planetary exploration achievements in the future.
(wib)
2023-09-21 10:00:13
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