This is a lunar lander that aims to achieve a lightweight probe system on a small scale and use the pinpoint landing technology necessary for future lunar probes. The project will aim to cut weight for higher function observational equipment and to land on resource scarce planets with an eye towards future solar system research probes.
The SLIM (Smart Lander for Investigating the Moon) 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.
By creating the SLIM lander humans will make a qualitative shift towards being able to land where we want and not just where it is easy to land, as had been the case before. By achieving this, it will become possible to land on planets even more resource scarce than the moon.
Nowadays, there has been an increase in the knowledge of target astronomical objects and the details which should be studied have grown more specific so that high accuracy landings near the target of study have become necessary.
Furthermore, a need will arise for equipping probes with higher function observational devices for future solar system research probes. Probe systems are being made lighter in preparation for this time and the reduced weight of probes will be essential so as to be able to distribute resources for observational devices.
The SLIM lander aims to achieve a small scale, light weight probe system and pinpoint landing technology, in addition to contributing to future lunar probes.
| Launch Date | 8:42:11 A.M. (JST) September 7, 2023 |
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| Launch Location | Yoshinobu Launch Complex at the JAXA Tanegashima Space Center |
| Launch Vehicle | H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 47 |
