SLIM

SLIM [ISAS]

SLIM (Smart Lander for Investigating the Moon) is a Japanese technology demonstration lunar landing mission to demonstrate pin-point landing technique and obstacle detection technique.

The SLIM project is a mission for researching the pinpoint landing technology necessary for future lunar probes and verifying this on the surface of the moon with a small scale probe.

In order to “pin-point landing” of this level, SLIM mission will demonstrate new image-based onboard navigation system and autonomous landing along with several other new technologies (e.g. “tow stage” landing sequence, metal shock absorbers). The SLIM spacecraft weight is ~730 kg wet mass and ~200 kg class dry mass. Its main propulsion consists of two 500 N class bipropellant thruster with N₂H₄ and MON-3. Tp>

After landing, SLIM project is planning to observe the lunar surface around landing site using the Multi-Band Camera (MBC).

The spacecraft was launched on a H-2A-202 rocket together with XRISM in 2023. Landing on a site at 25.2º E, 13.3º S located in the west of Mare Nectaris is planned.

On 18 January 2024, SLIM successfully landed on the lunar surface at Shioli crater. But apparently the solar arrays were not working after landing, so the surface lifetime will be reduced until battery power runs out. Both the LEV-1 nano-hopper and the LEV-2 nano-rover have been successfully separated.