Tokyo: Japan’s lunar probe, dubbed the “Moon Sniper”, is poised for a groundbreaking lunar touchdown using advanced pinpoint technology in a mission known as the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM). Scheduled for midnight on Saturday, Japan aims to become the fifth nation to achieve a precise soft landing on the Moon, joining the ranks of the United States, the Soviet Union, China, and India.
Equipped with a rolling probe developed by a major toy company, SLIM is designed for unprecedented precision in its descent. The craft, officially named the “Moon Sniper” by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), is set to begin its descent at midnight Japan time, targeting an area within 100 meters (330 feet) of a specific spot on the lunar surface. The goal is far tighter than the usual landing zones spanning several kilometers.
Success would mark a significant achievement for Japan in space exploration, especially after two failed lunar missions and recent rocket setbacks. SLIM’s precision landing is considered a technological leap, enabling missions to address more specific research questions, according to Emily Brunsden, senior lecturer in astrophysics and director of the University of York’s Astrocampus.
The craft aims to land near a lunar crater where the Moon’s mantle is believed to be accessible at the surface, providing essential insights into the origins of the Moon and Earth. SLIM’s spherical metal probe, developed jointly by JAXA and Japanese toy giant Takara Tomy, will examine the rocky terrain with a camera.
Apart from scientific goals, SLIM’s mission also seeks to unravel the mystery of the Moon’s water resources, a key factor for future lunar bases. The space agency has released an online video game, “SLIM: The pinpoint moon landing game”, adding a playful element to the mission.
As the international race for lunar exploration intensifies, SLIM’s mission holds the potential to contribute valuable data and enhance Japan’s standing in space exploration.
For those unfamiliar, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s (JAXA) SLIM lunar lander, affectionately known as the “Moon Sniper,” embarked on its journey on September 7, 2023, at 8:42:11 AM JST from the Tanegashima Space Center. The 8.8-foot-long (2.7 meters) SLIM was launched in tandem with XRISM, a potent X-ray space telescope.
