Japan’s Moon Lander Slim Could Be Saved by Sunlight, Says Jaxa
In a surprising turn of events, Japan’s space agency, Jaxa, has announced that there may still be hope for the country’s Moon lander, Slim. The spacecraft, which made history with its successful lunar touchdown on Saturday, was turned off just three hours after landing to conserve power. However, engineers have now discovered that if sunlight hits the lander in the right place, it could generate electricity and potentially be restored.
The Slim mission, also known as “Moon Sniper” due to its precision-landing technologies, marked Japan as the fifth nation in history to achieve a soft lunar touchdown. The excitement quickly turned to concern as power levels began to drain. To prevent a complete power loss, the decision was made to put the craft into sleep mode.
Jaxa explained, “The battery was disconnected according to our procedures with 12% power remaining, in order to avoid a situation where the restart (of the lander) would be hampered.” The spacecraft was switched off at 02:57 Japan time on Saturday.
Before shutting down, mission control was able to gather crucial data about Slim’s predicament, as well as images and information about its descent to the lunar surface. Jaxa expressed relief and excitement at the successful data collection. The agency has promised to provide updates throughout the week.
Moon missions typically aim to land during the “lunar day,” when the Sun rises over the eastern horizon. This provides approximately two Earth weeks of illumination before the Sun sets in the west, plunging the area into darkness for two weeks. Currently, Slim’s landing location on the slopes of Shioli Crater is in the “morning” phase.
If the spacecraft’s solar cells are indeed pointing westward, it may have to wait until the “lunar afternoon” for sufficient sunlight to charge its battery system. This delay could potentially affect the lander’s ability to investigate the lunar surface using its infrared camera and study the local geology.
Landing on the Moon has historically been a challenging feat, with only about half of all attempts succeeding. Prior to Slim’s touchdown, the United States, the former Soviet Union, China, and India were the only nations to achieve intact lunar landings. Recently, a private American mission had to abort its landing due to a propulsion fault, while another commercial US mission is scheduled to make an attempt in late February.
The fate of Slim hangs in the balance as Jaxa closely monitors the lighting conditions and prepares for a possible restoration. The potential revival of the Moon lander would not only be a triumph for Japan but also a significant step forward in lunar exploration. As the world eagerly awaits updates from Jaxa, the future of Slim remains uncertain, but hope lingers in the sunlight that may yet save this remarkable spacecraft.
Related Topics: Japan, Space, The Moon
