Japanese SLIM Lander Successfully Enters Orbit Moon At Christmas

Japanese SLIM lander completed LOI (photo: dock. JAXA)

JAKARTA - The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) announced that a robotic exploration lander named Smart Lander for Investigation Moon (SLIM) was successfully entered into lunar orbit.

Coinciding with the Christmas celebration, namely on December 25, JAXA said that SLIM had completed the Moon Orbit (LOI) insertion for three minutes. This adjustment occurred at 14:51 WIB.

After completing the LOI process, SLIM is inserted into elliptical moon orbit which is the link between the north pole and the south pole of the moon. This process was also successfully passed because the SLIM has been in the lunar polar orbit along 600 x 4,000 kilometers.

So far, SLIM has succeeded in achieving all JAXA targets. The Japanese state institution said that, "The orbital change is going according to plan and the spacecraft is currently in normal condition."

Currently, the furthest point from the surface of the moon's orbit or apolyune will be lowered. JAXA will also adjust its orbit to a circular orbit at an altitude of approximately 600 kilometers. If it has almost entered the landing stage, the danger point will be lowered.

JAXA explained that the aircraft hazard point will be lowered to 15 kilometers on January 19. After that, SLIM will prepare for the landing on the Moon's surface on January 20.

SLIM will be given directions to land at 00.00 WIB and will land 20 minutes later. If any unwanted conditions occur, SLIM is targeted to land a month later, namely on February 16.

SLIM is a lunar lander robot that is claimed to be capable of landing with high accuracy in the place JAXA wants. This lander will be deployed to explore the Moon with a lighter system than other lunar landers.

With its small size, JAXA wants to test whether the fundamental technology SLIM brings is capable of exploring low gravity environments. However, JAXA believes that its streamline exploration system is capable of strengthening exploration instruments.