# LEV-1

> Japanese tiny lunar hopping robot, landed as part of the SLIM mission

**Wikidata**: [Q124326844](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q124326844)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/lev-1

## Summary
LEV-1 (Lunar Excursion Vehicle 1) is a tiny Japanese lunar hopping robot and autonomous probe developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Chuo University. It was transported to the Moon aboard the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) mission, successfully landing on the lunar surface on January 19, 2024.

## Key Facts
- **Classification**: Lunar probe and autonomous robot.
- **Mass**: 2.1 kilograms.
- **Dimensions**: 40 cm (width) x 30 cm (length) x 26 cm (height).
- **Launch Date**: September 6, 2023, at 23:42:11.
- **Landing Date**: January 19, 2024.
- **Destination**: Near Shioli crater on the Moon.
- **Mission Context**: Deployed as part of the SLIM (Smart Lander for Investigating Moon) mission.
- **Launch Vehicle**: H-IIA (Flight H-IIA-47).
- **Launch Site**: Yoshinobu Launch Complex Launch Pad 1.
- **Developers**: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Chuo University Graduate School of Science and Engineering.
- **Aliases**: LEV1, Lunar Excursion Vehicle 1.

## FAQs
### Q: What is LEV-1?
A: LEV-1 is a 2.1-kilogram autonomous lunar probe designed as a "hopping robot." It was developed by Japanese institutions to operate on the Moon alongside the larger SLIM lander.

### Q: When did LEV-1 land on the Moon?
A: LEV-1 landed on January 19, 2024. It arrived as a payload aboard the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) mission.

### Q: Who built LEV-1?
A: The robot was developed jointly by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the Chuo University Graduate School of Science and Engineering.

### Q: How did LEV-1 get to the Moon?
A: It launched on September 6, 2023, aboard an H-IIA rocket from the Yoshinobu Launch Complex in Japan, sharing the ride with the SLIM lander and another robot, SORA-Q.

## Why It Matters
LEV-1 represents a significant step in miniaturized space exploration technology. As a "tiny" (2.1 kg) autonomous robot, it demonstrates the feasibility of deploying low-mass, cost-effective probes to conduct lunar science. Unlike traditional rovers that use wheels, LEV-1 is designed as a "hopping" robot, allowing it to move across the lunar surface in a low-gravity environment efficiently.

Its successful deployment alongside the SLIM lander highlights Japan's growing capabilities in precision lunar landings and surface operations. By utilizing a compact design developed by JAXA and academic partners like Chuo University, LEV-1 serves as a model for future secondary payloads that can augment primary missions with additional scientific data without requiring massive resources.

## Notable For
- **Hopping Mobility**: Functions as a lunar hopping robot rather than a traditional wheeled rover.
- **Miniaturization**: Weighs only 2.1 kg, distinguishing it as a "tiny" yet functional lunar probe.
- **Autonomous Operation**: Classified as an autonomous robot capable of independent operations on the Moon.
- **Mission Success**: Successfully landed and was deployed during the SLIM mission on January 19, 2024.

## Body

### Development and Specifications
LEV-1, also referred to as Lunar Excursion Vehicle 1, is an autonomous lunar probe originating from Japan. It was co-developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the Chuo University Graduate School of Science and Engineering.

Physically, the robot is compact, with the following specifications:
- **Width**: 40 centimetres
- **Length**: 30 centimetres
- **Height**: 26 centimetres
- **Mass**: 2.1 kilograms

### Mission Profile
The robot was launched as part of the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) mission.
- **Launch**: Occurred on September 6, 2023, at 23:42:11 from the Yoshinobu Launch Complex Launch Pad 1.
- **Vehicle**: It was lifted into space by an H-IIA expendable medium-lift launch vehicle (specifically H-IIA-47).
- **Companions**: It shared the launch with the SLIM lander and another small robot, SORA-Q.
- **Landing**: The mission reached the Moon's surface on January 19, 2024.
- **Location**: The landing site was near the Shioli crater.

### Designation and Function
LEV-1 is classified as both a "lunar probe" and an "autonomous robot." Its design utilizes a hopping mechanism to traverse the lunar terrain, fulfilling its role as a tiny but capable explorer within the broader SLIM mission architecture.

## References

1. [Source](https://apnews.com/article/japan-moon-landing-jaxa-probe-slim-845d4868636df5ced2e1818c588f29a4)
2. [Source](https://www.chuo-u.ac.jp/english/news/2023/09/67672/)
3. [Source](https://global.jaxa.jp/activity/pr/jaxas/no088/03.html)
4. Jonathan's Space Report
5. [Source](https://www.space.com/japan-slim-moon-lander-photo-lunar-surface)
6. [Source](https://global.jaxa.jp/countdown/slim/SLIM-mediakit-EN_2308.pdf)
7. [Source](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/japan-reaches-the-moon-but-the-fate-of-its-precision-lander-is-uncertain/)
8. [Source](https://www.jaxa.jp/projects/files/youtube/sas/20220315_slim_lev_document03.pdf)
9. [Japan’s SLIM achieved pinpoint moon landing with just one working engine. 2024](https://spacenews.com/japans-slim-achieved-pinpoint-moon-landing-with-just-one-working-engine/)