The rocket was launched from the Tanegashima Space Center in southwestern Japan on Wednesday evening. Thirty minutes later, the telescope was separated and sent into Earth orbit.
This relates to the X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy mission, also known as XRISM. This X-ray telescope can make more precise measurements than ever before on supernova remnants, galaxy clusters and black holes. The Dutch company SRON contributed various parts of the telescope.
A Japanese lunar lander was also on board the rocket. The Lunar Exploration Intelligent Lander (SLIM) will be placed in lunar orbit within three to four months. According to the Japanese space agency JAXA, the spacecraft will attempt to land on the moon early next year.
If this mission succeeds, Japan will be the fifth country to land on the moon. The United States, Russia, China and India preceded Japan.
Last month, India became the fourth country to land a spacecraft on the moon. The previous day, a Russian lander crashed on the moon’s surface. In April, a Japanese company also failed to successfully land on the moon.
Japan is seriously working on traveling to the moon. The country has also recently begun recruiting astronauts to land on the moon. The Americans also plan to do so again.
