Japan’s SLIM Moon Lander Defies Death Again, Wakes Up During Lunar Night
In a surprising turn of events, Japan’s SLIM moon lander has once again defied the odds and awakened from its slumber during the freezing lunar night. After being powered down on January 31, it was assumed that the lander would remain dormant for two weeks. However, to the astonishment of scientists, SLIM responded to a command sent by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) on Sunday night.
JAXA took to X (formerly Twitter) to announce the unexpected development, stating, “Last night, a command was sent to SLIM and a response received, confirming that the spacecraft has made it through the lunar night and maintained communication capabilities.” Unfortunately, communication with SLIM was suspended shortly after due to the increasingly hot conditions at the landing site near the moon’s equator, causing the lander’s instruments to overheat.
This is the second time SLIM has experienced a surprise revival since its historic landing on January 19. Despite executing the most precise lunar landing in history, the lander accidentally touched down upside down. As a result, engineers had to shut down SLIM immediately when it became evident that the craft’s solar energy cells were not receiving adequate sunlight. However, nine days later, SLIM briefly powered back on when the direction of incoming sunlight changed, providing enough power to its solar cells. Unfortunately, its operations were limited to a few hours before it powered off again.
JAXA expressed their amazement at SLIM’s ongoing survival, as the craft was not designed to endure the harsh conditions of the lunar night. During this period, much of the moon’s near side is deprived of sunlight, resulting in bone-chilling temperatures as low as minus 208 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 133 degrees Celsius) at the lunar equator, according to NASA.
Now that lunar daytime has resumed, SLIM faces a new challenge – sweltering temperatures of up to 250 degrees Fahrenheit (121 degrees Celsius). JAXA has made preparations to resume communication with the lander once its instrument temperatures have sufficiently cooled.
With SLIM’s successful landing last month, Japan joined the elite group of nations that have reached the lunar surface. The former Soviet Union, the United States, China, and India are the only other countries to have achieved this feat. India’s Chandrayaan-3 lunar lander, which touched down near the lunar south pole on August 23, 2023, managed to study the area for about two weeks before succumbing to the lunar night. Unlike SLIM, India’s lander did not wake up from its lunar hibernation.
SLIM’s resilience and ability to overcome adversity have captivated the scientific community and space enthusiasts alike. As we continue to explore the mysteries of the moon, SLIM’s unexpected awakenings serve as a reminder of the challenges and triumphs that come with lunar exploration.