_x000D_Screenshot: REUTERS (youtube.com)

What is Japan’s SLIM?

Japan’s SLIM (Smart Lander for Investigating Moon), affectionately dubbed the ‘Moon Sniper,’ made a historic landing on the moon on Jan. 19, 2024. This event was particularly noteworthy as Japan became the fifth country in the world to reach the moon. SLIM’s claim to fame is its exact landing, just 55 meters from its target site. This is a significant achievement, given the complexity of a lunar landing. Although it faced a hiccup by landing upside down – giving us a moment to imagine a moonwalk with a twist – the mission was saved 10 days later when sunlight hit its solar panels. SLIM aims to study lunar rocks to gain insights into the moon’s origins and potential water resources.