Japan’s SLIM lunar probe unexpectedly survives moonlit night By Reuters
© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: SLIM (Smart Lander for Lunar Exploration) is shown in this handout image taken by LEV-2 of the Moon released January 25, 2024. Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), TAKARA TOMY, Sony Group, Doshisha University /via REUTERS/File P
By Kantaro Komiya Free Mp3 Download
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s space agency said on Monday its SLIM lunar lander unexpectedly survived a cold moonlit night and re-established communication with Earth, more than a month after the spacecraft made a historic “correct” landing on the moon.
The Smart Lander for Lunar Exploration (SLIM) landed on the lunar surface last month, making Japan the fifth country to send a lunar probe. U.S.-based Intuitive Machines’ Odysseus followed suit last week as countries and companies race toward the moon in search of resources and human habitability.
SLIM tumbled shortly after landing within 55 meters (180 feet) of its target just south of the lunar equator and ran out of power because its solar panels were at the wrong angle.
The solar panels regained electricity after more than a week due to a change in sunlight direction. Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAPAN) operators have previously said the probe was not designed to survive moonlit nights.
