Japan's SLIM spacecraft successfully reaches the Moon

Japan's Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) spacecraft has left Earth orbit and is on its way to the moon. The spacecraft performed an engine burn on Saturday and is expected to have its first encounter with the moon on October 4. SLIM's landing attempt is still a few months away, but if successful, it will be a historic achievement as only the Soviet Union, the United States, China, and India have achieved a soft landing on the moon. The mission aims to make a precise landing within 328 feet of its target point inside a small crater on the moon's near side, which could pave the way for future missions to access scientifically intriguing sites on the moon and other celestial bodies.