Japan's Moon Sniper Lander Enters Lunar Orbit, Nears Historic Landing
Japan's space agency successfully placed its 'Moon Sniper' lander in lunar orbit on Christmas Day, bringing the nation one step closer to achieving its goal of landing a robotic explorer on the moon's surface for the first time.
Japan's Moon Sniper Prepares for Historic Landing
Japan's 'Moon Sniper' lander, developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), has entered lunar orbit on December 25. This significant milestone moves the nation closer to its goal of landing a robotic explorer on the moon's surface.
The lander is currently completing one loop around the moon every 6.4 hours. However, it will gradually tighten its orbit and descend closer to the moon's surface over the next few weeks in preparation for its historic touchdown attempt in mid-January.
If successful, Japan will become the fifth country to achieve a lunar landing and the third country to do so in the 21st century. This accomplishment reflects the ongoing race among nations to explore and potentially exploit the moon's natural resources for future crewed missions.
The Mission of Japan's Moon Sniper
The primary objective of Japan's robotic explorer, also known as SLIM (Smart Lander for Investigating Moon), is to demonstrate a precise landing technique and gather data about lunar rocks to enhance scientists' understanding of the moon's formation.
The Moon Sniper lander, with its lightweight design, will aim for a landing zone of approximately 328 feet (100 meters), instead of the usual kilometer range. This precise landing capability has earned the mission its nickname.
If the lander successfully reaches the lunar surface, it will explore an area near the Shioli impact crater, close to the Apollo 11 landing site where NASA astronauts first landed in 1969.
The Race for Lunar Exploration
While the United States remains the only country to have landed humans on the moon, its last soft landing was during the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. In recent years, other countries have attempted lunar landings, with varying degrees of success.
India's space agency successfully landed a spacecraft near the lunar south pole in August, making it the fourth country to do so after the United States, China, and the former Soviet Union. The landing near the south pole is particularly significant as scientists believe there are valuable stores of water ice in that region.
Looking ahead, Japan's Moon Sniper landing attempt will be followed by upcoming missions from the United States, including as many as three robotic vehicles in the next year. NASA also plans to send astronauts into lunar orbit in late 2024, setting the stage for potential future crewed missions to the moon.
