Japan’s space agency, JAXA, postponed the launch of an H-IIA rocket carrying the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) due to unfavorable wind conditions in the upper atmosphere. The launch was called off just 24 minutes before its scheduled time. The rocket was also carrying the XRISM satellite, a collaboration between JAXA, NASA, and the European Space Agency. This delay follows previous setbacks in Japan’s space endeavors, including the failure of the Epsilon small rocket launch and an engine explosion during testing. The SLIM mission aims to achieve the first Japanese spacecraft landing on the moon, now rescheduled for early 2024.
Facts/Terms for UPSC Prelims
- JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency): Japan’s national space agency responsible for space research, exploration, and satellite development.
- H-IIA Rocket: Japan’s flagship space launch vehicle, developed jointly by JAXA and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), with a high success rate in launches.
- Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM): A Japanese spacecraft designed to land on the moon, postponed due to wind conditions, aiming to explore lunar surfaces and conditions.
- XRISM Satellite: X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission, a joint project involving JAXA, NASA, and the European Space Agency, designed to study X-ray emissions from celestial bodies.
- Tanegashima Space Center: JAXA’s launch site located in southern Japan, from where the H-IIA rocket was planned to launch.
