The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) announced that preparations are underway for the landing of the SLIM spacecraft on the surface of the Moon. The agency stated in a post, "Experts from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) have begun the final stages of preparation for the SLIM spacecraft's landing on the Moon, which is scheduled for January 20."
JAXA pointed out that on January 19, the spacecraft is expected to lower its orbital altitude around the Moon to 15 kilometers above its surface. The landing process is set to begin on January 20 at 00:00 local time (January 19 at 18:00 Moscow time) and will last for 20 minutes, with the spacecraft expected to reach the Moon's surface at 00:20 (January 19 at 18:20 Moscow time).
Japan launched this spacecraft on September 7 from the Tanegashima Space Center, and the Japanese space agency initially predicted that it would arrive at the Moon and land on its surface in the first half of 2024.
