Japan successfully launches its SLIM spacecraft into lunar orbit

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) reported that on December 25 at 16:51 local time (11:51 Yerevan time), the Smart Lander (SLIM) spacecraft designed to explore the Moon was successfully launched into lunar orbit.

SLIM is currently in an elliptical orbit connecting the Moon's north and south poles (orbital period of about 6.4 hours). The minimum distance to the Moon (perigee) is about 600 km, and the maximum (apogee) is 4000 km. The orbit change went according to plan, the device is operating stably.

By mid-January 2024, it is planned to lower the apogee and place the device into a circular orbit at an altitude of about 600 km. Then preparations for disembarkation will begin. On January 19, the perigee will drop to an altitude of 15 km, and the descent to the Moon will begin at approximately 0:00 (JST) on January 20 or at 17:00 Yerevan time the previous day. Landing on the lunar surface is planned for the same day around 00:20 (JST) or at 17:20 the previous day Yerevan time.

This mission opens new horizons in the study of the Moon and could become a starting point for future research. The design of the lunar orbit that SLIM will follow includes the current orbit (blue line), the planned circular orbit (green line), and elliptical orbits of about 150-600 km (yellow line) and 15-600 km (red line). line).

This event not only demonstrates JAXA's capabilities, but also opens new horizons for international cooperation in space exploration. The next stages of the SLIM mission could reveal new aspects of lunar geology and contribute to the development of future space projects.