Ohara Corporation's optical glass was used in the navigation camera of the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM), a small lunar landing demonstrator launched by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) on September 7, 2023.
Using image navigation with this navigation camera, SLIM was able to accurately estimate its own position and successfully land on the lunar surface.
This landing involved the use of maps and data created from lunar surface images taken by the lunar orbiting satellite "Kaguya" (launched on September 14, 2007), which used our company's "CLEARCERAM™-Z." Landing was achieved by matching images taken by the navigation camera equipped with SLIM. It will be the fifth country in the world (the United States, Russia, China, India, and Japan) to land on the moon, and pinpoint landing at the target location is currently being confirmed, but if success is confirmed, it will be a world-first feat.
Furthermore, after landing on the moon, rocks will be analyzed in order to elucidate the origin of the moon, and our optical glass is also used in the filter glass of spectroscopic cameras.
Our optical glass has contributed to space exploration for many years, including the Apollo moon landing. In recent years, private companies in various countries have been actively promoting space utilization and space development, and interest in space is increasing.
Our company will continue to contribute to space exploration by providing advanced materials that are essential to space exploration.
For more info on SLIM visit JAXA Website below→
https://www.jaxa.jp/projects/sas/slim/index_j.html
https://www.isas.jaxa.jp/en/missions/spacecraft/current/slim.html
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