Japan’s ‘Moon Sniper’ Spacecraft Defies Odds, Wakes Up and Sends New Images from Lunar Surface
Japan’s lunar mission, known as the “Moon Sniper,” has defied expectations by waking up and transmitting new images from the lunar surface. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) announced this unexpected development, considering that the spacecraft was not designed to survive the harsh temperatures of the moon. After being dormant for most of February, the Moon Sniper miraculously came back to life over the weekend.
The robotic vehicle, officially called SLIM (Smart Lander for Investigating Moon), successfully touched down on the moon on January 19. This achievement made Japan the third country in this century and the fifth country ever to land on the moon. However, during descent, an anomaly occurred, causing the spacecraft to land on its nose. As a result, its solar panels were facing west instead of upright, depriving it of necessary sunlight to generate power.
Despite operating on limited battery power for just a few hours, the lander managed to send back a mosaic image of its landing site before shutting down. JAXA had hoped that as the sun’s angle on the moon shifted, light would reach the spacecraft’s solar cells, allowing it to reawaken. And indeed, ten days later, the Moon Sniper woke up and began capturing new images.
The Moon Sniper earned its name due to its precision technology, which enabled it to land just 55 meters (165 feet) from its intended target. This remarkable accuracy showcases Japan’s expertise in space exploration.
However, the spacecraft’s waking hours were short-lived. On January 31, it entered a two-week dormancy period during the long lunar night, where temperatures can plummet to minus 208 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 133 degrees Celsius). The last image taken by the lander before entering lunar night was shared on February 1.
The Moon Sniper wasn’t designed to withstand such extreme temperatures, but JAXA expressed its intention to reestablish communication with the lander in mid-February. In the meantime, a Houston-based company called Intuitive Machines achieved a significant milestone by landing their uncrewed IM-1 mission, also known as Odysseus, at the lunar south pole. This marked the first commercial spacecraft to soft-land on the moon and the first US-made vehicle to reach the lunar surface since Apollo 17 in 1972. However, similar to SLIM, the Odie mission faced its own challenges, including relying on experimental technology and ultimately landing on its side.
Over the weekend, the SLIM mission team sent a command to the Moon Sniper and received a response confirming that the spacecraft had survived the lunar night and maintained communication capabilities. JAXA shared this update on X (formerly known as Twitter). However, communication was terminated shortly after due to the high temperature of the communication equipment during lunar midday. The agency is preparing to resume operations once the instrument temperatures have sufficiently cooled.
The Moon Sniper’s ability to endure extreme temperature fluctuations is remarkable. The agency expressed surprise at the high temperatures, with some equipment reaching over 100 degrees Celsius (212 degrees Fahrenheit). Despite these challenges, JAXA highlighted the resilience of space electronics.
Landing on the moon remains a difficult task, even after five decades since the Apollo missions. Temperatures near the lunar equator can reach a scorching 250 degrees Fahrenheit (121 degrees Celsius) during the day. The lunar day lasts approximately 29.5306 Earth days, according to NASA.
While the Moon Sniper was communicating, it captured more images using its navigation camera. The mission team is currently analyzing this data, which includes previously unseen areas of the lunar surface. The team expressed excitement about the possibilities for further observations but did not provide a timeline for when the lander would resume its study of the moon.
Japan’s Moon Sniper mission continues to defy expectations and push the boundaries of lunar exploration. Its ability to wake up and send new images from the lunar surface showcases the resilience and innovation of Japanese space technology. As scientists analyze the data captured by the lander, we eagerly await further discoveries and insights into our closest celestial neighbor.