A Japanese lunar spacecraft is now operational on Monday following a few stressful days without adequate sunlight to produce energy.

On January 20, Japan’s initial trip to the moon successfully made a precise landing, but unfortunately ended up upside down. As a result, its solar panels were unable to receive sunlight.

However, as the lunar day begins, it seems that the probe has regained power.

On Monday, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) announced that they have successfully reestablished communication with the probe on Sunday night. The craft has now resumed its mission of capturing images of the Moon’s surface and transmitting them back to Earth.

Due to an unexpected engine malfunction, the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon, also known as SLIM, had a landing that was rougher than initially intended. To salvage as much information as possible about the landing and the area around the probe, JAXA utilized battery power. The craft was subsequently powered down to wait for the sun to rise higher in the lunar sky in late January.

Using its multi-band spectral camera, SLIM has been able to analyze the composition of olivine rocks on the surface of the moon. This research, carried out with power, aims to uncover information about the moon’s origins and how it has evolved over time, according to the agency. Previous observations have indicated that the moon may have been created from a collision between Earth and another planet.

A photograph in black and white shared on social media by JAXA displayed the rough surface of the moon, featuring a rock that the agency has dubbed “Toy Poodle” based on its appearance in early pictures. The spacecraft is examining six rocks, each named after a different breed of dog.

Reworded: According to JAXA, SLIM is forecasted to receive adequate sunlight and function for a few days on Earth, potentially until Thursday. It is uncertain if the spacecraft will be operational following another extremely frigid lunar night.

The SLIM successfully touched down approximately 55 meters (60 yards) from its intended destination, nestled between two craters near the Shioli crater. This region is characterized by volcanic rock. Previous missions to the moon have typically targeted flat areas that are at least 10 kilometers (6 miles) in width.

The SLIM mission included two independent probes that were deployed right before the landing. These probes documented the touchdown, the surrounding area, and other relevant lunar information.

Japan’s successful landing on the moon now puts them as the fifth country to achieve this feat, following behind the United States, the Soviet Union, China, and India.

Source: wral.com