Japan Attempts Historic Moon Landing with ‘Moon Sniper’ Probe
Japan is on the verge of making history as it attempts to land its high-precision “Moon Sniper” probe on the lunar surface. If successful, Japan will become the fifth country ever to put a spacecraft on the moon. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is hoping for a precise landing of its Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) probe within 100 meters of the designated target. This technology is unprecedented and crucial for advancing lunar exploration, particularly in the quest for lunar water and the potential for human habitation.
The SLIM probe, affectionately nicknamed the Moon Sniper, will embark on a 20-minute touchdown phase on its one-way mission from midnight on Saturday. Its target site is roughly the size of two athletic tracks on the slope of a crater just south of the lunar equator. JAXA’s SLIM project manager, Shinichiro Sakai, expressed the significance of this mission, stating, “No other nation has achieved this. Proving Japan has this technology would bring us a huge advantage in upcoming international missions like Artemis,” referring to NASA’s crewed moon mission.
Japan has been actively seeking to expand its role in space activities and has forged partnerships with the United States to address China’s growing military and technological influence, even extending into space. Currently, only four nations have successfully landed on the moon: India, China, the US, and Russia. Japan is actively participating in NASA’s Artemis program with the goal of sending one of its astronauts to the moon.
However, JAXA has faced multiple setbacks along the way. In March, their new flagship rocket H3 experienced a launch failure, which was meant to compete with commercial rocket providers like SpaceX. Despite these challenges, JAXA remains determined and optimistic about their space exploration endeavors.
JAXA has emphasized that their high-precision technology will be a powerful tool in future exploration, especially in hilly moon poles that are seen as potential sources of oxygen, fuel, and water. In fact, Japan plans to collaborate with India on a joint unmanned lunar polar exploration in 2025.
The Moon Sniper spacecraft carries a unique passenger onboard: a shape-shifting robot named SORA-Q. Developed in collaboration with Takara Tomy, the toy company behind the original Transformers, SORA-Q is designed to pop open like a Transformer toy, navigate the lunar surface, and transmit images back to Earth. This little robot, slightly bigger than a tennis ball and weighing as much as a large potato, has been compared to a friendly Star Wars droid and a sea turtle due to its ability to adapt to the dusty moonscape.
If the mission succeeds, SORA-Q’s cameras will capture valuable images of a crater where parts of the moon’s mantle, typically hidden deep below its crust, are believed to be exposed. This data could provide crucial insights into the moon’s composition and history.
In conclusion, Japan’s attempt at a historic moon landing with the Moon Sniper probe marks an important milestone in lunar exploration. If successful, Japan will join an exclusive group of nations that have achieved this feat. JAXA’s high-precision technology and collaboration with international partners demonstrate their commitment to advancing space exploration and potentially paving the way for future human habitation on the moon. With the innovative addition of SORA-Q, Japan’s mission promises to provide valuable insights into the moon’s surface and composition. As we eagerly await the outcome of this mission, the world watches with anticipation for Japan’s triumphant entry into lunar exploration history.
