The Smart Lunar Research Lander (SLIM) surprised experts by surviving its third night on the Moon, even though it was not designed to withstand the freezing temperatures that can drop to -170 degrees Celsius at night. Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) shared the status of SLIM on April 23 after receiving a new photo of the lunar surface from the lander. Despite facing challenges like landing upside down and the inability to collect solar energy due to its position, SLIM managed to continue operating and sending signals back to Earth.
The spacecraft arrived on the Moon on January 19, 2024, with the mission of testing landing technology and collecting geological data. It experienced its first lunar night from January 31 to February 15, followed by a second lunar night on February 29. The team at JAXA had initially predicted that extreme temperature drops during the night would cause the lander to stop working, but to their surprise, SLIM continued to function after each cycle. Despite potential damage due to the harsh lunar environment, SLIM’s basic functions remained intact after three lunar nights, exceeding expectations in terms of the spacecraft’s design.
JAXA plans to closely monitor SLIM’s status and address any potential problems that may arise. Meanwhile, independent researchers like Chandra Tungathurthi in India have been using orbiters like the Chandrayaan-2 to examine the Japanese lander and share their findings with the public. The unexpected resilience of SLIM in surviving the extreme conditions on the Moon has sparked further interest in lunar exploration and technology advancements.