Japan's first moon lander, the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM), has successfully endured its third freezing lunar night, as confirmed by Japan's space agency, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The lunar probe responded to a signal from Earth, indicating its survival after enduring temperatures that can plummet to minus 170 degrees Celsius during a lunar night.
SLIM landed on the moon on January 20, becoming the fifth country to achieve a successful moon landing. Despite initially landing upside down with its solar panels unable to receive sunlight, the probe managed to power on after eight days when the sun rose.
Designed to test Japan's pinpoint landing technology and gather geological data and images, SLIM was not originally intended to withstand the harsh conditions of lunar nights. However, JAXA reported that the lander's key functions are still operational despite the extreme temperature fluctuations.
Scientists are eager to analyze the mineral compositions of moon rocks collected by SLIM to gain insights into the moon's origins and compare them with Earth's geological data.
Meanwhile, NASA recently reestablished contact with Voyager 1, the farthest space probe from Earth, after months of receiving distorted data. In contrast, a U.S. lunar probe developed by a private space company ceased operations a month after landing in February, and an Indian moon lander failed to establish communication following its touchdown in 2023.
