Japan’s SLIM Moon Lander Powers Down Ahead of Lunar Nighttime, Capturing Final Images and Science Data
Japan’s SLIM moon lander, known as the “Smart Lander for Investigating Moon,” has concluded its mission by capturing final images and collecting a wealth of science data. Despite facing engine troubles that caused it to land nose-down, SLIM successfully executed a precision touchdown on the rim of Shioli crater on January 19. The spacecraft’s solar cells, however, faced westward due to the landing orientation, resulting in limited sunlight and shortened operations on the lunar surface. Nevertheless, SLIM reawakened after nearly 10 days as sunlight finally reached its panels.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), responsible for operating SLIM, has spent the past few days utilizing the spacecraft’s Multi-Band Camera (MBC) to study the composition of the nearby lunar surface. The MBC analyzes the light signatures or spectra of reflected sunlight to identify minerals such as olivine. JAXA’s SLIM account on X (formerly Twitter) shared a final image taken by SLIM’s navigation camera on January 31, confirming that the spacecraft had entered a dormant state as expected.
To potentially revive SLIM, JAXA will have to wait out the approximately 14.5-Earth-day-long lunar nighttime and wait for favorable lighting and temperature conditions during the next lunar daytime, which is expected to begin around February 15. However, the electronics of the probe must withstand the extreme equatorial lunar nighttime temperatures of approximately minus 208 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 130 degrees Celsius).
Regardless of whether SLIM wakes up again, it has already achieved its full and extended mission goals. These include achieving a precision landing, deploying two small rovers, demonstrating their interoperability, and gathering a significant amount of scientific data. SLIM’s X account also shared labeled images of the targets observed by the MBC’s spectroscopic imaging, showcasing the rocks and regolith being studied.
JAXA is currently analyzing the extensive data obtained by SLIM to identify rocks and estimate the chemical composition of minerals. These findings will contribute to solving the mystery of the moon’s origin. The agency plans to announce scientific results as soon as they are obtained.
In conclusion, Japan’s SLIM moon lander has successfully completed its mission by capturing final images and collecting valuable science data. Despite initial engine troubles and limited sunlight, SLIM has achieved its goals and provided valuable insights into the composition of the lunar surface. JAXA’s ongoing analysis of the data will contribute to our understanding of the moon’s origin.
