The latter half of the firing test for certification of the type-1A LE-9 engine for the Test Flight No.2 and the subsequent flights of H3 Launch Vehicle is underway. Four tests have been carried out so far between November 17 and December 6, and detailed evaluation of the acquired data is currently in progress, as well as preparations for the next test.
We will continue to prepare for a reliable launch of the Test No.2 of the H3 Launch Vehicle based on the results of the firing test for certification.

Regarding the investigation into the cause of the explosion and fire accident during the second stage motor ground firing test of the Epsilon S Launch Vehicle, we have been conducting analysis and test verification in order to narrow down the cause. We plan to report the results of these investigations at a meeting of the Space Development and Utilization Committee of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology scheduled for December 12.

The Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM), which was launched onboard the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 47 on September 7, 2023, is scheduled to land on the moon at around 0:20 a.m. on January 20, 2024 (Japan Standard Time), as explained at the press conference held on December 5.
SLIM has been operating smoothly so far, successfully injecting itself into the lunar transfer orbit in October, and is scheduled to enter the lunar orbit by the end of the year. In addition, immediately before lunar landing, the two Lunar Excursion Vehicles (LEV-1 and LEV-2) onboard SLIM will be separated. After landing on the moon, scientific observations will be conducted with SLIM's Multi-Band Camera.

While the accuracy of domestic and foreign lunar landers varies from a few kilometers to a few tens of kilometers, SLIM's landing accuracy is 100 meters, making it a challenging landing technology demonstration mission.
By achieving a pinpoint landing by SLIM, we aim to open up a new era of lunar exploration, shifting from the past era of "landing where it is easy to land" to "landing where you want to land.” This will allow us to conduct effective and efficient investigations of water resources and other aspects of manned lunar exploration, as well as an approach to a landing site of scientific interest.
The mission will also demonstrate new technologies such as a landing operation that measures and corrects its own position by comparing and matching crater images captured by SLIM with a database of craters based on observation images by the lunar explorer KAGUYA, etc., and the “two-step landing method” suitable for an incline.

We will continue to steadily operate the SLIM and do our utmost to realize the mission.

The 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) will be held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, which started on November 30 and will continue through December 12. COP is the annual meeting of the 197 Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). At this 28th conference, the focus is on strengthening climate change measures to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement.

I attended the conference from December 3 to 5. On December 4, the “Space Agency Leaders' Summit” was held, attended by about 20 space agencies from around the world. The summit meeting was called by the UAE Space Agency for the purpose of declaring the contribution of Earth observation to climate change mitigation and adaptation. I made the following statement: Japan has been developing and operating Earth observation satellites for nearly 40 years and will continue to do so without interruption of such Earth observation from space; it is important for diverse stakeholders including international partners and the civilian sector to cooperate each other so that we can link Earth observation by satellites to effective action. NASA, ESA, and about 20 other space agencies from around the world made statements, and a declaration was compiled and adopted as the outcome document. The declaration includes the importance of utilizing space technology and comprehensive observation in addressing climate change, as well as the promotion of data sharing and climate change research.

In addition, taking advantage of COP28, an agreement with Centre National D’Etudes Spatiales (CNES) of France to extend cooperation on the Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite "IBUKI" was signed. Although the cooperation agreement with CNES was signed in 2017, the use of the “IBUKI” observation data by CNES started in 2009 when “IBUKI” was launched, and the data has been used for research for many years. I also had an opportunity to meet with the officials of Brazil's Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change. The Ministry requested to use data from the Advanced Land Observing Satellite "Daichi" (ALOS) as a reference data for the enforcement of the Forest Code in Brazil, and JAXA has decided to provide the data. JICA and JAXA have cooperated with experts in Brazil in the Project on Utilization of ALOS Images to Support Protection of the Brazilian Amazon Forest and Combat against Illegal Deforestation, which was carried out from 2009 to 2012, and in the operation of the JICA-JAXA Forest Early Warning System in the Tropics (JJ-FAST), which was established based on the results of the project. I believe that the request JAXA received from Brazil this time is the result of a good cooperative relationship.

In meeting with officials of companies and various stakeholders at the COP, I was reminded of the high expectations for space technology in solving climate change issues. I would like to continue linking JAXA's achievements in the field of Earth observation with opportunities for people around the world to use.
Please refer to the JAXA web page for information on JAXA's hosting events and presentations at the COP.

This year, I have had the opportunity to meet and talk in person with members of the press as we used to, and I have gained many new insights from your questions and perspectives, which I feel has been very meaningful. Thank you very much for all coverages for this year.
I know it's a little early, but I wish you a happy new year.