Japan’s space agency, JAXA, is preparing to launch two completely different space missions from a single rocket. That’s his new X-ray telescope, which scouts some of the hottest spots in the universe, and a small robotic lunar lander for experiments. But we’ll have to wait until another day for the mission to get off the ground.
The name of the telescope is X-ray imaging and spectroscopy missions, XRISM for short (pronounced like the word “crism”). This lunar exploration mission is called Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM). Here’s what you need to know about the launch.
Why was the launch canceled?
XRISM and SLIM were scheduled to launch from the H-IIA rocket from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan at 8:26 pm ET Sunday (9:26 am Japan time Monday).
The rocket was on its final countdown, but less than 30 minutes before the scheduled launch, JAXA announced in a webcast that the day’s launch had been canceled “due to bad weather.” JAXA had previously said the weather appeared to be “calm,” but the statement said winds were too strong at high altitudes above the launch site for a safe launch. Post to X (formerly known as Twitter) is produced by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which manufactures and operates the rockets used in flight.
Saturday’s flight was also postponed early due to bad weather. Japan’s space agency has yet to announce when the next launch attempt will take place. However, the release period is reserved until September 15th.
What is XRISM?
A telescope the size of a bus. JAXA is collaborating with NASA on this mission, with additional participation from the European Space Agency. XRISM studies cosmic X-rays, which unlike other wavelengths of light, can only be detected above the Earth’s atmosphere, which protects us from harmful radiation.
XRISM uses state-of-the-art spectroscopy to measure changes in brightness of celestial objects at different wavelengths. The data will reveal information about the motion and chemistry of the universe’s most extreme places, such as the matter swirling around black holes, the ferocious plasma that permeates galaxy clusters, and the remnants of exploding massive stars.
A key tool in XRISM is Resolve. This is an instrument that collects spectroscopic data at a much higher resolution than the orbiting X-ray observatories. To measure small temperature changes as X-rays hit the instrument surface, Resolve must be cooled to just above absolute zero.
A second device, named Xtend, works simultaneously to photograph the universe at a resolution comparable to how our eyes would perceive if we had X-ray vision. While Resolve zooms in, Xtend zooms out, giving scientists complementary views of the same X-ray source over a larger area.
What is slim?
SLIM is a compact robotic lunar lander without astronauts. It’s about the size of a small food truck and weighs over 1,500 pounds at launch.
The lander’s mission is primarily non-scientific. Rather, it is to demonstrate a pinpoint navigation system aimed at landing within roughly the length of a football field at a target landing site. Developing better landing techniques will allow future spacecraft to land near rugged terrain of scientific interest.
Where are XRISM and SLIM headed?
The space telescope will be placed in orbit about 350 miles above Earth. After arriving, the researchers spend several months powering up the equipment and running performance tests. Scientific work began in January, and the first results from this data are expected within about a year.
SLIM’s journey to Siori Crater on the near side of the Moon requires patience. The spacecraft will make a long, circuitous journey of at least four months, requiring a small amount of propellant. SLIM will take several months to reach lunar orbit, then spend another month orbiting the moon before attempting a lunar landing.