Consider the following statements about Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM): 

1.      Recently, SLIM spacecraft entered into orbit around the moon after a months-long journey. 

2.      It is a spacecraft built and launched by the NASA. 

3.      It was launched together with XRISM, a next-generation X-ray space telescope. 

Which of the statements given above is/are not correct?

Solution

Recently, Japan’s Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) spacecraft entered into orbit around the moon after a months-long journey.  It is a spacecraft built and launched by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) on September 7, 2023, from the Tanegashima spaceport.  It weighed only 590 kg.  It was launched together with XRISM, a next-generation X-ray space telescope, onboard an H-2A rocket.  It entered into an elliptical orbit around the moon over three minutes or so.   Its apogee (farthest point) in this orbit is 4,000 km and perigee (closest point) is 600 km above the lunar surface.