# Smart Lander for Investigating Moon

> lunar lander developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency

**Wikidata**: [Q23773226](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q23773226)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_Lander_for_Investigating_Moon)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/smart-lander-for-investigating-moon

## Summary
The Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) is a lunar lander developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and operated by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science. Nicknamed "Moon Sniper," the spacecraft successfully landed on the lunar surface on January 19, 2024, demonstrating pinpoint landing technology within the Shioli crater. It carried two small probes, LEV-1 and SORA-Q, and marked a significant milestone in precision lunar exploration.

## Key Facts
- **Instance Of:** Lunar lander.
- **Operator:** Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS).
- **Launch Date:** September 6, 2023 (23:42:11 UTC) from Yoshinobu Launch Complex Launch Pad 1.
- **Launch Vehicle:** H-IIA (Flight H-IIA-47).
- **Landing Date:** January 19, 2024 (15:20 UTC) near Shioli crater on the Moon.
- **Mass:** Approximately 730 kg at launch; 210 kg at landing; 190 kg dry weight.
- **Dimensions:** 2.7 meters wide, 2.4 meters high, and 1.7 meters long.
- **Manufacturer:** Mitsubishi Electric (spacecraft), Sharp Corporation (solar array), and Meisei Electric (NavCam).
- **Components:** Included two subordinate probes, LEV-1 and SORA-Q.
- **Coordinates:** Landed at approximately 13.3°S, 25.2°E.

## FAQs
### Q: When did SLIM land on the Moon?
A: SLIM successfully landed on the Moon on January 19, 2024, at 15:20 UTC.

### Q: Why is SLIM called "Moon Sniper"?
A: The nickname "Moon Sniper" refers to the mission's primary objective to demonstrate pinpoint landing technology, aiming to land within a specific target area rather than a general region.

### Q: Did the lander survive the lunar night?
A: Yes, SLIM survived multiple hibernation periods during the lunar night. It regained power on January 28, 2024, and subsequently established communications again on February 25 and March 27, 2024.

## Why It Matters
The Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) represents a critical advancement in space exploration technology by shifting the paradigm from "landing where it is easy" to "landing where we want." By demonstrating pinpoint landing accuracy within 100 meters of a target, SLIM enables future missions to access specific geological features, craters, or resource-rich areas that were previously too risky to target. This capability is essential for advanced scientific research and future sustainable lunar exploration. The mission's resilience, surviving extreme lunar night temperatures and technical challenges such as landing with a single working engine, provides valuable engineering data for the design of future interplanetary probes. As Japan's first successful soft landing on the Moon, it solidifies JAXA's role in the global space community.

## Notable For
- **Pinpoint Landing:** Demonstrated the ability to land with high precision near the Shioli crater rather than a broad zone.
- **Landing with One Engine:** Successfully achieved touchdown despite losing one of its two main engines during the descent.
- **Survivability:** Repeatedly survived the harsh conditions of the lunar night and successfully reestablished communication, exceeding expectations for durability.
- **Rover Deployment:** Successfully deployed the LEV-1 hopping robot and the SORA-Q transformable robot upon landing.
- **Japanese First:** Marked Japan as the fifth nation to successfully achieve a soft landing on the Moon.

## Body

### Development and Specifications
Developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and operated by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS), SLIM was designed to test lightweight, high-precision landing systems. The spacecraft had a launch mass of approximately 730 kilograms and a landing weight of 210 kilograms. Its structure measures 2.7 meters in width, 2.4 meters in height, and 1.7 meters in length.

Manufacturing responsibilities were shared among several Japanese firms: Mitsubishi Electric built the spacecraft, Sharp Corporation provided the solar arrays, and Meisei Electric supplied the navigation camera (NavCam). The mission utilized an H-IIA launch vehicle, specifically the H-IIA-47 configuration, provided by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

### Mission Timeline
SLIM was launched on September 6, 2023, at 23:42:11 UTC from the Yoshinobu Launch Complex. It entered lunar orbit on December 25, 2023. The landing attempt occurred on January 19, 2024, at 15:20 UTC. While the landing was successful, the lander encountered an issue where it achieved the touchdown with just one working engine.

Shortly after landing at coordinates 13.315°S, 25.248°E (near the Shioli crater), the mission team confirmed the deployment of the LEV-1 and SORA-Q probes. Due to power concerns, the lander entered hibernation on the same day at 17:57 UTC.

### Post-Landing Operations
The mission demonstrated remarkable resilience following the initial landing. SLIM regained power and established a signal approximately nine days later on January 28, 2024. It subsequently entered hibernation again on January 31, 2024, to endure the lunar night. The lander continued to cycle through periods of hibernation and signal acquisition, waking up again on February 25, 2024, and March 27, 2024, before entering hibernation again on March 29, 2024.

## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/slim.htm)
2. [Source](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/japans-moon-sniper-test-precision-074701174.html)
3. Jonathan's Space Report
4. [Source](https://twitter.com/SLIM_JAXA/status/1749294689650688107)
5. [Japan makes history with tense, successful moon landing. 2024](https://spacenews.com/japan-makes-history-with-tense-successful-moon-landing/)
6. [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/)
7. [Source](https://www.space.com/japan-slim-moon-lander-photo-lunar-surface)
8. [Japan's SLIM moon lander regains power nine days after botched landing. 2024](https://www.newscientist.com/article/2414496-japans-slim-moon-lander-regains-power-nine-days-after-botched-landing/)
9. [2024](https://twitter.com/amsatdl/status/1751693553674162250)
10. [Near death experience — Japan’s Moon lander makes a comeback. 2024](https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-00260-z)
11. [Source](https://twitter.com/amsatdl/status/1752491960386941320)
12. [Lunar night puts Japanese lander back to sleep. The Japan Times. 2024](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/02/01/japan/science-health/slim-lunar-night/)
13. [Japan’s moon lander took this eerie photo before being enveloped by lunar night. Engadget. 2024](https://www.engadget.com/japans-moon-lander-took-this-eerie-photo-before-being-enveloped-by-lunar-night-221438290.html)
14. [Source](https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/2024/02/26/slim-japan-moon-lander/)
15. [Source](https://twitter.com/SLIM_JAXA/status/1761981979237732355)
16. [Japan SLIM moon lander put to sleep after surviving lunar night. The Japan Times. 2024](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/03/02/japan/science-health/japan-lunar-lander-sleep/)
17. [Source](https://twitter.com/SLIM_JAXA/status/1773162369947996297)
18. [Source](https://twitter.com/slim_jaxa/status/1774608981098729732)
19. [Source](https://twitter.com/slim_jaxa/status/1783330118683050427)
20. [Source](https://x.com/SLIM_JAXA/status/1784896327270232091)
21. [Source](https://global.jaxa.jp/press/2024/08/20240826-1_e.html)
22. [Source](https://news.abplive.com/science/japan-smart-lander-for-investigating-moon-slim-launch-date-all-about-japan-first-lunar-soft-landing-attempt-1628080)
23. [Source](https://www.isas.jaxa.jp/home/slim/SLIM/index.html)
24. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2023-137D)