Japan launched its first lander to the Moon (3 photos + 1 video)

Another contender for the title of “lunar power”.





Launch of the H2A launch vehicle with the first Japanese landing module SLIM (Smart Lander for Investigating Moon) started today, 7 September, from the Tanegashima Space Launch Center in southwestern Kagoshima Prefecture. The launch was broadcast live on YouTube by the Japanese agency Aerospace Research (JAXA).

It is reported that the successful separation of the lander from the carrier occurred 47 minutes and 33 seconds after the launch of the rocket.



Recording of a live broadcast of the launch of the H2A launch vehicle

The SLIM lander is designed to test the technology high-precision landing of vehicles on the lunar surface within 100 meters from the reference point. The module weighs about 200 kg and has a height of 2.4 m and a width of 2.7 m. The device is equipped with a camera capable of measuring the amount of iron and other elements in the lunar soil.



It is reported that SLIM will enter lunar orbit only in 3-4 month and will try to land on the moon in January-February 2024. When successful landing, Japan will become the fifth country to land apparatus to the surface of the Moon. Previously, this was done by the USA, USSR, China and completely recently India.



In addition to the landing module, the Japanese launch vehicle launched Earth's orbit with the X-ray telescope XRISM, created jointly with NASA and European Space Agency (EKA). The telescope is equipped x-ray machine with a wide field of view and x-ray a spectrometer that will allow you to study the elemental composition of solids, liquid and powder substances in space. It is assumed that the data from telescope will help study the structure of galaxies and stars, as well as better understand various phenomena in the Universe.