Japan’s SLIM Spacecraft and Lunar Exploration: 29 Dec 2023

SLIM: Key Features and Mission

• Launch and Design: Launched by JAXA on September 7, 2023, SLIM is a lightweight spacecraft (590 kg) compared to India’s Chandrayaan 3 (3,900 kg).
• Mission Goal: The mission aims to demonstrate precise lunar landing, targeting a site near the Shioli Crater within 100 meters accuracy.

Journey to the Moon

• Trajectory Choice: SLIM used a fuel-efficient path based on weak-stability boundary theory, taking four months to reach the moon, unlike Chandrayaan 3’s Hohmann transfer orbit.
• Orbital Mechanics: The spacecraft harnessed Earth’s gravity for kinetic energy, aligning its trajectory with the moon for a gradual approach.

SLIM’s Lunar Mission Objectives

• Precision Landing: Aiming for minimal deviation in landing, SLIM sets new standards for lunar missions.
• Scientific Exploration: It will deploy two rovers, LEV-1 and LEV-2, to study lunar surface conditions, including temperature and radiation.

Impact on Chandrayaan 4

• Lunar South Pole Mission: Chandrayaan 4 (LUPEX), a joint Indian-Japanese mission, plans to explore near the moon’s south pole, leveraging SLIM’s precise landing technologies.
• Technological Collaboration: Insights from SLIM, especially in navigation and algorithms, will be vital for Chandrayaan 4’s success.

Why in News:

• Japan’s Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) spacecraft entered lunar orbit on December 25.