Japan’s Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) emerges successful from a grueling lunar night, underscoring the nation’s prowess in space technology and revitalizing hopes for future moon explorations.
Japan’s Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) has successfully survived a second lunar night, defying expectations and highlighting the nation’s technological capabilities in space exploration. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) reported this achievement, noting the extremely low temperatures of minus 170 degrees Celsius experienced during the lunar night. SLIM initially faced challenges upon landing on the moon in January, including an incorrect orientation that left its solar panels unable to capture sunlight effectively. However, through adjustments, the lander managed to orient correctly towards the sun, allowing it to collect geological data from moon rocks before entering hibernation.
The brief communication with SLIM confirmed its survival, with plans to re-establish contact once the lander’s temperature stabilizes. The collection and analysis of mineral compositions from the moon rocks aim to provide insights into the moon’s origins and its relationship with Earth. Japan became the fifth national space agency to achieve a soft landing on the moon, joining the ranks of the US, former Soviet Union, China, and India. This accomplishment underscores the challenges and significance of surviving the lunar night, a crucial aspect for future moon missions.
Additionally, the private US spacecraft, the Odysseus Moon lander, also achieved a soft lunar touchdown, marking advancements in private space exploration despite facing its awkward landing. These developments reflect the growing global efforts in understanding the moon, with countries and private entities alike contributing to the body of knowledge surrounding lunar exploration.
