SPACE
Japan’s moon lander Slim resumes mission
January 29, 2024 - Japan’s SLIM spacecraft has resumed operations after being shut for nine days due to a power supply issue. The probe’s touchdown made Japan the fifth country to put a spacecraft on the moon.
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On January 20, SLIM touched down within 55m of its target point, outstripping conventional accuracy of several kilometres for lunar landers.
However, the probe tumbled down a crater slope during its landing, leaving its solar batteries facing in the wrong direction and unable to generate electricity.
Nine days later, thanks to a change in the sunlight’s direction, SLIM has started to generate power.
The mission’s landing technology could allow future exploration of hilly Moon poles seen as a potential sources of fuel, water and oxygen, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said.