Project SLIM (Smart Lander for Investigating Moon)
The project is called SLIM (Smart Lander for Investigating Moon), which aims to achieve high-precision landing on the lunar surface at the desired location using a small lunar lander (small lunar landing demonstrator). It is scheduled to be launched within the fiscal year 2023. Saiki, Nagaoka, and Nakauchi take the lead in the development of a multi-band spectroscopic camera for lunar soil exploration.
High-Precision Landing Techniques
The SLIM project aims to perform pinpoint landing on crater slopes and conduct investigations of lunar rocks. The high-precision landing pursued by SLIM is an essential technology for future solar system scientific exploration.
Exploring the Moon’s Rock Composition
The small lunar lander of SLIM is equipped with a Multi-Band Camera (MBC) to examine the composition of lunar rocks. The MBC is utilized to capture data across multiple spectral bands for detailed analysis of the lunar surface.
Project LUPEX (Lunar Polar Exploration)
t is an international collaborative mission between the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) aimed at acquiring data on the quantity and quality of lunar water resources to determine their usability for future sustainable space exploration activities. The mission, known as LUPEX (Lunar Polar Exploration), plans to launch a lunar polar exploration probe starting from the fiscal year 2024. It is positioned as an important international cooperation project in the field of space, conducted in collaboration with international partners. Saiki, Nagaoka, and Nakauchi are responsible for the development of a near-infrared imaging spectroscopic device for lunar polar region ice exploration.
Towards the Exploration of Lunar Water Resources
The mission aims to investigate the presence of water resources, including their quantity and distribution, in the vicinity of the long-duration shadowed regions known as "permanently shadowed regions" located near the lunar North and South poles.
Developing foundational technologies for a lunar base.
By acquiring essential data on the quantity and location of lunar water resources, it becomes possible to determine the feasibility of water utilization for future sustainable space exploration activities. Additionally, the verification of exploration techniques such as mobility, overnight stays, and drilling will contribute to various aspects of technology acquisition, including base construction, development of pressurized manned rovers, and manned landing missions on the Moon, thus paving the way for future lunar activities.