Japan’s SLIM spacecraft, which achieved a precise lunar landing, has successfully restored power after a week-long hiatus due to solar panel misalignment. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) regained communication with the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM), solidifying Japan’s position as the fifth country to make a lunar landing. SLIM is now back in action, continuing its mission to analyze lunar rocks for valuable insights into the moon’s origin.
The spacecraft’s pinpoint landing, although slightly deviated during touchdown, showcases significant advancements in vision-based technology. This could prove instrumental for future exploration, particularly in the hilly moon poles, considered potential sources of fuel, water, and oxygen. Despite a minor setback involving the loss of thrust in one of its main engines, SLIM safely landed within 55 meters of its target in a lunar crater near the equator on January 20.
SLIM’s solar panels initially faced westward due to the landing displacement, rendering them unable to generate power immediately. JAXA manually disconnected SLIM’s dying battery 2 hours and 37 minutes after touchdown, following the successful transmission of the lander’s data to Earth. The spacecraft has now resumed operations, using its multi-band spectral camera to analyze the composition of olivine rocks on the lunar surface.
While JAXA has not specified an end date for SLIM’s lunar operations, the lander was not designed to endure a lunar night. The next lunar night is expected to begin on Thursday, emphasizing the urgency to make the most of SLIM’s operational window.
(Inputs from Reuters)