Japan’s Moon lander, the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM), has successfully overcome a power supply issue that caused a week-long interruption in its operations. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) re-established contact with SLIM, indicating that the glitch had been resolved. Initially encountering challenges with solar panel orientation, the lander can now generate power after a shift in lighting conditions allowed it to catch sunlight.
SLIM, making Japan the fifth country to achieve a soft touchdown on the Moon, landed precisely within a 100-meter zone at the edge of the Shioli crater. Despite initial concerns about its landing angle and power supply, the successful resumption of operations showcases Japan’s technical prowess in lunar exploration.
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JAXA shared a photograph taken by SLIM of a nearby rock, humorously nicknamed a “toy poodle.” The lander aims to analyze the composition of rocks to unravel clues about the Moon’s origin.
The SLIM mission contributes to global lunar exploration efforts, with countries like Russia, China, and private firms intensifying their space exploration initiatives. The successful turnaround of SLIM adds momentum to Japan’s space ambitions and highlights the challenges and triumphs in the ongoing global space race.
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#BREAKING Japan says Moon lander 'resumed operations' pic.twitter.com/H8xM0ORCtD
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) January 29, 2024
