DThe Japanese probe SLIM, which landed on the moon, went live after days of power failure. As the Japanese space agency JAXA announced on Monday, the solar panels are now apparently producing electricity. “SLIM” (Smart Lander for Investigating Moon) landed on the lunar surface on January 20, Japan time. However, the solar panels of the device, which was only 2.4 meters high, no longer provided electricity after landing, because they were facing west and thus away from the sun. The probe was initially running on battery power before shutting down.
“Communication with SLIM was successfully established last night and activity has resumed!” JAXA announced on Platform X (formerly Twitter). The probe is now also exploring the surface of the Moon and has successfully sent photos of boulders back to Earth, including one called “Toypoodle”. JAXA hypothesized that despite their unfavorable orientation, the solar panels will be able to generate electricity as soon as sunlight hits them from the west side of the moon.
Japan is the fifth country to achieve a soft landing on an Earth satellite, after the former Soviet Union, the United States, China and India. “SLIM” set off for the Moon on the H2A launch vehicle from Japan's Tanegashima Space Center in September. JAXA was satisfied with the project despite the initial problems with the power supply. Because the moon landing achieved an unprecedented accuracy of less than ten meters. It was said that “SLIM” could even land about three to four meters from its destination.
“SLIM” landed near Shiol Crater in a shallow area called the “Nectar Sea”. However, on landing, the thruster of one of the engines came loose and fell to the surface of the Moon. The resulting change in thrust then caused the probe to not face the sun in the correct direction. Japan's space agency still hopes that the successful precision landing of “SLIM” will usher in a transition from the “earth we get” era to the “earth we want” era.
The obtained data will be used in the planning of future lunar missions, for example within the framework of the “Artemis” program managed by the United States. NASA wants to put humans on the moon again after more than 50 years — even though the Artemis 3 lunar landing mission was recently pushed back to September 2026.