Japan joins moon race

Japan has launched a lunar mission, hoping to become the world’s fifth country to land on the moon after the U.S., Russia, China and India


Launch Vehicle H-IIA:

Lift off: Sep 7, 2023 from Tanegashima Space Centre

Fairing

Second stage

First stage

Two solid-fuel strap-on boosters


SMART LANDER FOR INVESTIGATING MOON (SLIM)
Dubbed “moon sniper”, probe aims to land within 100 metres of target point within Shioli crater – more precise touchdown than previous lunar landers have attempted

S-band antenna

Thin film solar cell

Landing radar

Navigation camera

Main engines

Thrusters

Height: 2.4m
Length: 2.7m 
Width: 1.7m 
Weight: 700kg

After landing, SLIM will analyse composition of olivine rocks in search of clues about moon’s origin


SLIM landing site

India’s Chandrayaan-3 
Near lunar south pole


Source: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) 
Picture: JAXA
© GRAPHIC NEWS