Japan’s first moon lander, known as the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM), has displayed remarkable resilience by responding to a signal from Earth, indicating its survival through a second freezing weekslong lunar night, as revealed by Japan’s space agency, JAXA, on Monday 27 Feb
Describing the signal reception, which occurred late on Sunday night, JAXA labeled it a “miracle” given that the probe was not initially equipped to endure the harsh lunar night conditions, where temperatures plummet to as low as minus 170 degrees Celsius (minus 274 degrees Fahrenheit).
SLIM accomplished a precise touchdown on January 20, marking Japan’s achievement as the fifth country to successfully deploy a probe on the lunar surface. However, the probe encountered an unexpected setback as it landed inverted, rendering its solar panels incapable of receiving sunlight initially, leading to their deactivation within hours of landing.
Despite the initial setback, SLIM managed to regain power on the eighth day post-landing, once it came into contact with sunlight. During this period, the craft diligently collected geological data from moon rocks. However, as the lunar night approached, SLIM went into hibernation mode in late January to endure the extreme conditions once again.
JAXA elaborated that the communication on Sunday was intentionally brief due to the spacecraft experiencing “lunar midday,” resulting in temperatures as high as about 100 degrees Celsius (212 Fahrenheit). The agency is currently preparing to re-establish contact once SLIM has cooled down sufficiently.
The mission holds significant scientific importance, with researchers aiming to uncover clues about the moon’s origin by comparing the mineral compositions of lunar rocks with those found on Earth. This endeavor marks a crucial step in advancing our understanding of the moon’s formation and evolution.
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