Japan’s space agency, Jaxa, has announced that the Slim spacecraft has successfully responded to commands from Earth, proving its resilience during the harsh lunar nights. The spacecraft endured its second lunar night, capturing new images of its landing site on the Moon. Lunar nights are known for their extreme cold due to the absence of an atmosphere, causing temperatures to plummet over the 14-day period. Despite some temperature sensor and battery malfunctions due to the cold, Slim has maintained most of its functions after the second lunar night, demonstrating its ability to withstand adverse lunar conditions.
Slim made history with a successful landing on the rim of Shioli Crater on January 19, 2024, overcoming engine troubles during descent. Despite an unconventional nose-down landing posture, Slim has fulfilled its mission objectives and continues to operate, providing valuable data about the lunar surface. This resilience stands in stark contrast to the fate of Chandrayaan-3, which failed to wake up after its mission ended, highlighting Slim’s significance in ongoing lunar research and its contribution to our understanding of the Moon’s surface.
The successful response of Slim to Earth commands after enduring the harsh lunar night underscores its importance in lunar exploration. This achievement not only showcases the spacecraft’s endurance but also provides invaluable insights into the challenging lunar environment, furthering our understanding of the Moon’s surface and its potential for scientific exploration.
