Japan plans to launch unmanned ships to the Moon

The Japan Aviation Research and Development Agency (JAXA) has announced plans to launch unmanned spacecraft to the Moon in 2018.

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Japan will launch unmanned spacecraft to the moon in 2018

If this plan succeeds, Japan will become the fourth country to send the spacecraft to the Moon, after Russia, the US and China, according to Science Alert.

Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) unmanned probe simulation.(Photo: Japan Times)

"This is a necessary step even though there are many procedures to proceed before the plan is formally approved , " JAXA spokesman said.

The estimated cost for this project ranges from 83 to 125 million USD. However, if convenient, this will be the way to pave the way for the search for mineral deposits on the Moon and a springboard for the plan to explore Mars.

Unmanned probes Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) of Japan will integrate safe grounding technology with high accuracy. This technology could also be used for the mission to bring people to the Moon or Mars.

Chihito Onda, JAXA spokesman, said SLIM uses software similar to face detection software in digital cameras to identify craters on the Moon. JAXA engineers insist they want SLIM to land off the landing target of 100m.

In 2007, JAXA launched the Kaguya satellite ship flying around the Moon, capturing the Moon's surface and mapping its geographical characteristics. In 2009, Kaguya took a picture of a giant black cave, diameter from 60-70m and nearly 100m deep. This is most likely the future of the SLIM probe.