Since humans first set foot on the moon in the 60s of the 20th century, many countries and regions around the world have joined the ranks of lunar exploration and development. Among them, Japan, as one of the leading countries in the field of space technology, has also formulated a detailed and ambitious lunar exploration plan, but the first two failed to land on the moon, and it remains to be seen whether Japan can become the fifth country to land on the moon after the United States, Russia, China, and India.
As early as the late 1970s, Japan began remote sensing exploration of the Moon. The first attempt was launched in 1990 with the Hiten probe, and although the main mission was to study the gravitational field near Earth's orbit, the small satellite Oresat successfully flew around the moon, marking the official opening of Japan's lunar exploration.
As science and technology advanced, Japan continued to deepen its lunar exploration efforts in the decades that followed. In 2007, the Selene Kaguya probe, Japan's first full-scale lunar exploration program, was launched, which not only carried out detailed topographic mapping, but also collected important data on the moon's geological structure and resource distribution.
November 2022, Japan"Hospitality"The Omotenashi lunar probe traveled to the moon aboard the U.S. Space Launch System (SLS) and embarked on a journey of exploration of the lunar surface by the Japanese. However, shortly after separating from the rocket, the probe lost contact and the mission ultimately failed, which is regrettable.
In April 2023, another private space company in Japan called iSpace launched the Hakuto-R lander. Similarly, during the landing, the probe lost contact with the ground, and Japan suffered a second Waterloo.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) actively participates in international space cooperation. After learning about the importance of technology and experience in deep space exploration, Japan decided to work with international partners such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to advance the lunar exploration program. In particular, in 2023, Japan announced that it would participate in the NASA-led "Artemis program" and planned to arrange for its own astronaut Ayumi Yoneda to participate in a manned mission to the moon after 2025.
In addition, Japan has demonstrated its technological prowess in landing on asteroids, such as the successful return of samples from the asteroid Ryugu by Hayabusa2, a feat that demonstrates Japan's high level of technology in complex space navigation, precision landing, and sample return, which are also critical to achieving a soft landing on the lunar surface.
Japan's third mission to the moon, which focuses on achieving a soft landing on the lunar surface, is led by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and plans to use a probe called SLIM (Smart Lander for Investigating Moon). The probe uses a unique side-landing technology, the first of its kind in the world, which means that it will descend differently than a traditional vertical landing.
The slim detector is equipped with a high-efficiency thermal control system for heat dissipation, a high-performance power component ensures lighter and long-lasting operation, and a high-performance propulsion system provides stronger, faster thrust to increase the likelihood of mission success. The launch was originally planned for 2021, but due to delays in technical preparations and other mission-carrying projects, the actual launch date was postponed to September 7, 2023, before the H2A rocket lifted off from Tanegashima Space Center and is expected to land on the lunar surface at around 12:00 on January 20, 2024.
The goal of the mission is not only to validate this innovative landing technology, but also to collect important scientific data that will lay the groundwork for a possible future lunar base. If successful, Japan will become the fifth country to independently achieve a soft landing on the moon. At the same time, this success will also have a significant impact on the global space community and strengthen Japan's position in the field of deep space exploration.
In the third decade of the 21st century, Japan has put forward a more long-term vision for lunar exploration, including the development of manned space flight and the construction of a lunar research base. Under the 2018 long-term space development plan, Japan will spend the next five years developing key technologies and components to ensure the reliability and safety of space-grade equipment to support future lunar landings and base construction.
To sum up, Japan's lunar exploration is a history of scientific exploration driven by scientific and technological progress and supported by international cooperation. With its rich experience and advanced technology in the field of space, Japan is steadily moving towards a new round of lunar landing and contributing to the exploration and development of all mankind on the moon and beyond. Let's wait and see whether Japan will succeed in landing on the moon.