SLIM & XRISM

Summary

The H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 47 launched JAXA’s X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM) and the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) September 7th 2023.

XRISM

XRISM is an X-ray astronomy satellite mission aimed at exploring the structure and evolution of the universe through high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy of astrophysical sources. Areas of scientific research include:

Structure formation of the Universe and evolution of clusters of galaxies;
Circulation history of baryonic matter in the Universe;
Transport and circulation of energy in the Universe;
New science with unprecedented high resolution X-ray spectroscopy.[1]
the flow of matter around accreting supermassive black holes[2].

Features

the XRISM payload consists of two instruments, Resolve a microcalorimeter x-ray spectrometer,[3] and Xtend and X-ray imager developed by JAXA[4]. The mission is characterized by its capability for high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy of various various celestial X-ray sources, such as black holes, galaxy clusters, and supernova remnants, to study their characteristics and behaviors.
XRISM is a collaboration between JAXA and NASA, with contributions from European Space Agency (ESA) member countries.

Background: XRISM is a successor of the Hitomi (ASTRO-H) satellite, which unfortunately suffered a mission-ending anomaly shortly after its launch. [5] XRISM intends to achieve the scientific goals that were set for Hitomi.

SLIM

Summary

SLIM is a lunar exploration mission aimed at demonstrating precise landing technologies on the Moon’s surface. The main objective is to achieve a landing with a high degree of accuracy, targeting a location only about 100 meters in diameter.

SLIM will test and demonstrate various innovative landing technologies, such as hazard detection and avoidance, as well as autonomous and real-time trajectory control. The mission will provide valuable data and experience for future lunar exploration and other planetary missions.

Features used to accomplish this include five crushable 3d-printed aluminum lattice landing legs, navigation maps using data from the Kaguya/SELENE orbiter and and using a long looping orbit instead of a breaking burn to reach the moon.[6] SLIM can also carry small exploration vehicles, LEV-1[7] and LEV-2 [8]. The system may also in the future be capable of returning a payload of size equivalent to the Hayabusa explorer spacecraft.[9]