(TheConservativeTimes.org) – Japan launched a rocket into space on Thursday, September 7, 2023. The HIII-A rocket was launched from the Tanegashima Space Center. JAXA, the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency, streamed live video of the historic event.
The rocket carried a small lunar lander along with a telescope capable of X-Ray imaging called the X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM). The satellite containing this technology was placed into orbit around Earth 13 minutes after launch.
The moon lander, Smart Lander for Investigating the Moon (SLIM), successfully detached from the rocket and proceeded along a pre-determined path. SLIM will eventually land on the moon, but not until early next year. Japan has been working on a new technology that will assist lunar landers in making more precise landings. SLIM is designed to land within 330 feet of the targeted landing site instead of the typical variance of 6 miles.
JAXA and NASA are cooperating to explore space, observing the strength of light at certain wavelengths as well as temperature, shape, and brightness of “things in space”.
According to David Alexader, director of the Rice Space Institute, this mission could provide more knowledge about “hot plasma”. Hot plasma is a “superheated matter” that is found throughout the universe. Alexander believes that understanding the properties of hot plasma could benefit humanity medically, technologically, and environmentally. Alexander also theorizes that by studying hot plasma, information can be obtained about black holes, galactic clusters, and the evolution of chemical elements.
Many nations are once again showing interest in landing on the moon. Four countries have been previously successful: the US, India, Russia, and China. Japan’s space program has suffered difficulties that caused the failure of two other launch attempts this year. The successful launch of the HIII-A is a joyful event.
Japan is recruiting astronauts for the first time in over a decade indicating the nation’s desire to send a human to the moon. The practice of sending robots instead of humans began following the NASA mission in 1972.
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