Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Muskan Arora
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is set to undertake a significant lunar landing with its Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM), a spacecraft launched on September 7, 2023.
After entering lunar orbit on Christmas Day, SLIM, approximately the size of a small car, has prepared itself for a pinpoint landing near the Shinoli crater in the Moon's equatorial region.
The historic landing attempt is scheduled for January 20, with the descent beginning around 00:00 Japan Standard Time (JST), equivalent to 8:30 pm IST.
The landing sequence initiates with the perilune descent maneuver, lowering SLIM's orbit to within 15 kilometers of the lunar surface. The spacecraft, equipped with 'smart eyes'—onboard cameras and artificial intelligence—enters its autonomous descent phase, navigating lunar terrain with craters, boulders, and rocks to find a secure landing spot.
SLIM employs a vision-based navigation technology to autonomously determine its location during descent. Utilizing photographs of the lunar surface and comparing them with pre-existing maps from lunar satellites, SLIM adjusts its trajectory in real-time for a pinpoint approach.
During the final approach, SLIM switches to a vertical orientation, engaging its onboard radar and optical range finder for the last few meters. The lander's engines fire continuously until reaching an altitude of about 3 meters. At this point, the engines shut down, and SLIM free-falls onto the Moon's surface, cushioned by specially designed crushable aluminium lattice legs.
SLIM's mission extends beyond technological prowess. If successful, it will gather data on the composition of rocks near the Sea of Nectar, contributing to understanding the Moon's origins and interior structure. The mission holds significance for planetary formation and evolution studies.
A successful landing by SLIM would not only establish Japan's position in lunar exploration but also contribute to humanity's collective knowledge of Earth's celestial neighbour. This mission aligns with global efforts to unravel the mysteries of the Moon and enhance our understanding of the cosmos.