Headline: “Japan’s SLIM Probe Resurrects After Solar Setback, Resumes Lunar Analysis”
Subheading: “JAXA’s Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) Powers Up Over a Week After Precision Moon Landing”
Tokyo, Japan – In a remarkable turn of events, Japan’s SLIM spacecraft has regained power, as announced by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) on Monday. The spacecraft, which achieved a meticulously precise lunar landing, faced a power outage due to misaligned solar panels more than a week ago.
JAXA successfully re-established communication with SLIM late on Sunday, nearly nine days after the probe touched down on the lunar surface, marking Japan as the fifth country to achieve a moon landing. The recovery is attributed to a change in the direction of sunlight, allowing SLIM’s solar panels to generate power once again.
The resumption of SLIM’s operations involves the analysis of olivine rocks on the lunar surface using its multi-band spectral camera. This mission aims to uncover valuable insights into the moon’s origin.
SLIM initially landed within 55 meters (180 feet) of its target in a crater near the lunar equator on January 20. JAXA highlighted the success of what they termed “vision-based pinpoint” landing, showcasing a technology crucial for future exploration, particularly in the hilly moon poles considered potential sources of fuel, water, and oxygen.
Japan’s SLIM probe regains power more than a week after moon landing https://t.co/4rnSdwwbOv pic.twitter.com/3kLYY8w0P0
— CNA (@ChannelNewsAsia) January 29, 2024
During the descent, SLIM encountered an issue with one of its two main engines, losing thrust just before touchdown and drifting a few dozen meters away from the intended target. Despite the setback, the lander safely settled on a gentle slope, though it appeared slightly tilted in a photograph captured by a baseball-sized wheeled rover it deployed.
Compounding the challenge, SLIM’s solar panels were displaced westward, hindering immediate power generation. JAXA manually disconnected SLIM’s dwindling battery 2 hours and 37 minutes after touchdown, completing the transmission of crucial lander data to Earth.
While JAXA has not specified a definitive end date for SLIM’s lunar operations, the agency had previously indicated that the lander was not designed to withstand a lunar night. The next lunar night is scheduled to begin on Thursday, adding a sense of urgency to the ongoing lunar exploration mission.