Japanese Rocket Takes Off for Moon
TimeSep 19, 2023
The Facts
On Thursday, Japan launched a lunar exploration spacecraft in hopes of becoming the fifth country in the world to land on the moon.
The Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency said the H-IIA rocket carrying the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) took off from Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
If this landmark mission touches down on the moon, it will mark a turning point in advanced optical and image processing technology. The success of Japan's mission will make it possible for humans to land on planets even more resource-scarce than the moon.
Establishment-critical narrative
Countries worldwide spend billions of dollars on space exploration, but very little is achieved. Our planet faces many existential issues, such as climate change, that would be a better use of the time, money, and effort spent studying and exploring space.
