Japan Successfully Launches Moon Lander And X-ray Mission

Tokyo, Sep 10 (TNA) Japan achieved a significant milestone by launching its lunar lander and X-ray mission from the Tanegashima Space Center, overcoming previous weather-related delays. If successful, Japan will join the exclusive group of nations that have soft-landed on the Moon, including Russia, the US, China, and India.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) spearheaded this endeavor with two key missions. The Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) aims to demonstrate high-accuracy lunar landings, a crucial step for future lunar exploration. SLIM, also known as "Moon Sniper," will target the Shioli Crater on the Moon's near side.

The second mission, the X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM), is a collaborative effort between JAXA, NASA, and the European Space Agency (ESA). XRISM will observe X-rays from extreme celestial phenomena, shedding light on the Universe's most energetic events.

This launch follows India's recent achievement of landing on the Moon's South Pole with Chandrayaan-3. It's a remarkable step forward for Japan, which had faced previous lunar landing setbacks.

This endeavor highlights Japan's growing presence in space exploration and its commitment to advancing our understanding of the Moon and the Universe.