Japan's 1st lunar lander unveiled to media

Jun 05 (NHK) - Japan's space agency has unveiled to the media its first lunar explorer at its space center in Kagoshima Prefecture. The probe is called the Smart Lander for Investigating the Moon, or SLIM.

JAXA's unmanned spacecraft will test precise landing technology on the moon and study its rocks.

The craft is about 2.4 meters high and weighs roughly 200 kilograms.

The probe will use image-recognition technique to help it identify craters and other topographical features. JAXA's goal is to land the spacecraft within one hundred meters of its intended landing point.

The space agency had previously planned to send the SLIM lander on a H2A rocket in May. But the launch has been postponed to August or thereafter due to the failed debut of Japan's new flagship H3 rocket. ...continue reading

New Typhoon is Forming, Okinawa Could Be Affected Next Week

As of November 4th, the Japan Meteorological Agency announced that a tropical depression near the Caroline Islands is expected to develop into a typhoon within the next 24 hours. The system is separate from Typhoon No. 25 (Haiyan) currently near the Philippines and is projected to move northwestward once it intensifies.

China Extends Visa-Free Entry for Japan

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Japan Faces Legal Hurdles in Deploying Military for Bear Control

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MORE Sci-Tech NEWS

Inside the Next-Generation Linear Train

JR Tokai has unveiled to the press the interior of its new Linear Chuo Shinkansen test train, the M10, currently undergoing trial runs. To reduce noise, the ceiling is covered with a membrane that also functions as a projection screen displaying scenery and maps.

Moths Threaten Kyoto’s Famous Bamboo Shoots

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Japan’s Traditional Farming Sites Receive Global Agricultural Heritage Status

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Linear Maglev Construction Cost Increased by 4 Trillion Yen, Twice the Original Estimate

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Japan’s Geothermal Energy In Spotlight

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