Japan finally joined the five countries that have successfully soft-landed on the moon on Saturday, January 21, 2024. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) said that its small lunar landing test vehicle known as SLIM settled to the surface at 10:30 p.m. local time.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first world leaders to congratulate Japan on this amazing feat. He took to the social media platform X expressing his admiration and appreciation for Japan's space program as well as its Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
"Congratulations Prime Minister @Kishida230 and everyone at JAXA on achieving Japan's first soft Moon landing. India looks forward for our cooperation in space exploration between @isro and JAXA," PM Modi tweeted.
Congratulations Prime Minister @Kishida230 and everyone at JAXA on achieving Japan’s first soft Moon landing. India looks forward to our cooperation in space exploration between @isro and JAXA. https://t.co/lvQ99iltDH
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 20, 2024
PM Modi shared the post of his Japanese counterpart, who had also celebrated the successful landing of SLIM on X. "I'm really glad to hear that small lunar landing demonstration vehicle 'Slim' (@SLIM_JAXA) has succeeded in landing on the moon, although detailed analysis is required since solar cells are not generating electricity. I would like to express my respect to all those involved for their hard work so far, and I look forward to further challenges together," PM Kishida said.
A Pinpoint Landing
SLIM, which represents Smart Lander for Investigating Moon, is a small-sized robotic explorer weighing about 130 kilograms with the dimensions of around 2.5 meters. It was launched on September 11, 2023, using the Epsilon rocket from Uchinoura Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture.
The primary objective of SLIM was to demonstrate a pinpoint and soft lunar landing using the optical navigation, implying that the spacecraft could automatically hit its target with respect to images on the lunar surface. SLIM aimed to land within 100 meters of its target site, a crater sit near to the lunar equator and transmit images and data back to Earth.
As per the JAXA, SLIM had made a pinpoint landing within 10 meters of its target and became the most accurate lunar landing ever. With this new technology now opening up new opportunities to study and develop the moon, this achievement was historical for Japanese science and technology in space.
Nonetheless, the mission has met a few challenges as the solar cell in SLIM produced way inadequate electricity to energize its instruments once it is landed. According to officials from the JAXA, the team is currently looking into the data into what caused the problem with the solar cell and what will be the next step for the lander. In doing so, they said that all conditions were fulfilled for them to regard such a mission as a "minimum success" whereby the spacecraft had attained its primary goal of performing a precise and soft lunar landing.
A Vision For Sustainable Future In Space
Japan's soft moon landing while marked by a scar is a success and which the international community of space have also endorsed considering that it signified a significant milestone to the bid in achieving their moon mission. Japan became the third nation to land on the moon this century after China and Israel, and fifth overall after the United States and the former Soviet Union.
The feat also highlighted Japan's technological prowess and leadership in space exploration since it proved a new capability which may make lunar missions easier, and more flexible. What slim will do is improve the human landers, orbiters as well as any other spacecraft with its technologies through the help of optical navigation technology.
Besides, Japan's soft landing that was made on the moon was considered as a move to encourage sustainability and cooperation in entering space because such was done following the provisions stipulated in the Artemis Accords, which is a principle set made defining precisely what they need. It includes the United States, Australia, Canada, Italy, Luxembourg, New Zealand, South Korea, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom, while the host country Japan will also sign the Artemis Accords.
Development on the core elements under the Artemis Accords in how to advance partnerships and cooperate internationally, with respect to space exploration, and particularly relevant to the country is the Artemis program, a venture emanating from the United States aimed at returning human beings to the moon within a timeframe not later than 2024 as well as establishing a sustainable presence in the area by 2028.
Japan has been one of the key partners of the Artemis program, where it has pledged to offer support in various capacities regarding the Artemis program, such as an outpost in the orbiting surface of the moon, a pressurized rover, and transportation services for cargo.
One of the Artemis program's participants could be India as a partner potentially since has confirmed its readiness and desire for cooperation with the United States and other countries about moon researching. India has its own ambitious lunar program, named Chandrayaan, which managed to successfully launch two lunar orbiters and a lunar impactor. In 2019, the country also tried to land a rover on the moon but this mission failed due to loss of communication with the lander.
Thus when Japan managed a soft moon landing as well, PM Modi's congratulatory message chimed in this hope of India stepping up its collaboration with Japan and other countries in space exploration. He also pointed to the existing partnership between Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and JAXA that have pursued several joint projects into space such as the lunar polar exploration mission, the asia-pacific regional space agency forum and the Global Precipitation Measurement mission.
PM Modi's message also signalled unwavering support from India to Japan's leadership and vision towards space exploration where he lauded the achievement of Japan and expressed full confidence in its future efforts too. He also reaffirmed in pursuing own space goals aspirations that India looks forward in its cooperation with Japan in the space exploration. –(IVNTV)