Japan’s moon lander enters orbit
The H-IIA rocket lifted off in September from the southern island of Tanegashima carrying the lander, after three postponements linked to bad weather. Reuters File Photo.
Japan’s SLIM space probe has entered the moon’s orbit marking a major step towards the country’s first successful lunar landing, expected in January.
The Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) is nicknamed the “Moon Sniper” because it is designed to land within 100 metres (328 feet) of a specific target on the lunar surface.
If the mission is successful, the touchdown would make Japan only the fifth country to have successfully landed a probe on the Moon, after the United States, Russia, China and India.
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