After India, now Japan to attempt moon landing, ‘Best wishes…’ says ISRO

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) confirmed that the X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM), and the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM), were launched onboard the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 47 (H-IIA F47) at 8:42:11 am on September 7, 2023 (Japan Standard Time, JST) from the Tanegashima Space Center.

JAXA also confirmed that the launch vehicle flew as planned, and it was confirmed that XRISM was successfully separated from the launch vehicle at about 14 minutes and 9 seconds after launch and SLIM at about 47 minutes and 33 seconds after launch.

Congratulations @JAXA_en on the successful launch of the SLIM lander to the moon.
Best wishes for another successful lunar endeavour by the global space community. https://t.co/7HSjtoFHx7

— ISRO (@isro) September 7, 2023

The Indian space agency congratulated Japan on successful launch of SLIM lander to the moon. ISRO has only recently successfully soft landed on the lunar south becoming the first country to do so and only fourth country to land on moon.