Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One person was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a car in the town of Burj Qalawieh, south Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The first ship of the Maghreb fleet delivering aid to break the siege on Gaza departs from the port of Gammarth in Tunisia.
Channel 12: Airspace closed at Ramon Airport due to fears of drone infiltration
IOF Spokesperson: Sirens sounded over an aircraft infiltration in the Bir Ora area, and details are being examined
Drone infiltration sirens sound north of the Gulf of Aqaba
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out five extremely violent raids on the western areas of Gaza City
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out major bombings in the Gaza Strip, the most violent since October 7
Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree: The missile force carried out a major operation using the Palestine 2 ballistic hypersonic missile, hitting several targets in occupied Yafa.
Sirens sound in large areas of occupied Palestine after a missile launch from Yemen was detected
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: 14 martyrs arrive at al-Shifa Hospital following Israeli massacre of al-Sultan Family north of Gaza.

Japan's 'Moon Sniper' mission finally launched after three delays

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 7 Sep 2023 10:51
  • 1 Shares
2 Min Read

Japan has launched its "Moon Sniper" mission, aiming to become the fifth nation to achieve a precise landing on the lunar surface.

  • x
  • An H2-A rocket carrying a small lunar surface probe and other objects lifts off from the Tanegashima Space Centre on Tanegashima island, Kagoshima prefecture on September 7. (AFP)
    An H2-A rocket carrying a small lunar surface probe and other objects lifts off from the Tanegashima Space Centre on Tanegashima Island, Kagoshima prefecture, on September 7 (AFP)

Japan's "Moon Sniper" mission has launched with the goal of becoming the fifth country to safely land on the lunar surface and the first to do so with exceptional precision. The Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (Slim) is nicknamed "Sniper", and the reason is that it is aimed to land within 100 meters of a specific target on the moon, a much smaller margin than the usual range of several kilometers.

The H-IIA rocket carrying Slim took off from Tanegashima, watched by 35,000 online viewers. The lander is expected to touch down on the lunar surface in early 2024.

🇯🇵 @JAXA_en | @SLIM_JAXA Launch Update 🚨

🚀 H-IIA 202 #H2AF47 carrying #SLIM & #XRISM as Viewed from Takezaki observatory of #tanegashima Space Center, Japan#JAXA #SORAQ #ソラキュー #H2A #HIIA #MoonSniper

🎥:- @tnsc_JAXA pic.twitter.com/38gU2jmmVW

— ZetaGravit (@zetagravit) September 7, 2023

Related News

DPRK slams US-Japan-South Korea war games as ‘reckless’

Japanese lawmakers urge government to recognize Palestine

During the mission, the Slim probe and the XRISM space research satellite, developed in collaboration with US and European space agencies, separated from the rocket. Only the United States, Russia, and China joined by India as of last month, have successfully landed a probe on the moon. Japan had experienced two failed moon missions, one public and one private.

Japan's space agency, JAXA, emphasized that the Slim lander represents a significant advancement in precision landing capabilities, allowing for targeted landings on celestial bodies with significant gravity, going beyond the moon. No previous instances of pinpoint landings on such celestial bodies have been recorded globally.

In addition to Slim, the XRISM satellite, launched on the same rocket, will conduct high-resolution X-ray spectroscopic observations of hot gas plasma winds in galaxies throughout the universe.

Japan has faced challenges with its launch rockets, including failures of the H3 and Epsilon rockets in 2022. Despite setbacks, Japan continues to pursue its space exploration ambitions, contributing to the growing body of lunar and space research.

Read next: Japan successfully launches new reconnaissance satellite into space

  • Japan
  • Moon
  • Space
  • smart lander
  • Moon Sniper

Most Read

The damaged building in the Katara neighborhood, Doha, Qatar, September 9, 2025 (Social media)

Hamas delegation survives Israeli assassination attempt in Qatar

  • Politics
  • 9 Sep 2025
Israeli police and rescue teams respond at the scene of a shooting attack where several people killed and injured in Jerusalem, Monday, Sept. 8, 2025 (AP)

Al-Quds shooting: 7 settlers killed, several critically injured

  • Politics
  • 8 Sep 2025
Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

Pro-'Israel' far-right Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
People protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, in New York, on Friday, September 27, 2024 (AP)
Politics

'Israel' stops unfunded diplomacy ahead of UN, October 7 memorial

An Israeli Air Force fighter jet releases flares over the Gaza Strip, is seen from southern occupied Palestine, Thursday, May 8, 2025 (AP)
Politics

OIC summit draft: Israeli attack on Qatar risks normalization

People shout slogans and hold Palestinian flags while protesting during the twenty-first stage of La Vuelta cycling race from Alalpardo to Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP)
Sports

Pro-Palestine protests force abrupt end to Vuelta a España finale

Damage is seen after an Israeli strike targeted a compound that hosted Hamas' political leadership in Doha, Qatar, on Wednesday, September 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Israeli regime faces growing isolation over Qatar strike: Reports

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS