Japanese Moon Probe Reconnects with JAXA

Japan’s spacecraft named Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) has resumed its mission after a rough landing on January 20th. As it landed upside down, its solar panels were affected badly. However, it is now back in action, capturing and sending images of the Moon’s surface. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) was able to communicate with the probe after some problems. 

SLIM faced a last-minute engine failure which led to the rough landing. It then used up its battery power to gather important data about the landing. It then waited for the sun to rise high in the lunar sky, after which it regained power. Currently, this probe is studying the Moon to understand its origin. 

Japan’s spacecraft SLIM overcame initial problems to solidify Japan’s position as the fifth country to successfully soft-land on the Moon. The United States, the Soviet Union, China, and India are the four other countries to have achieved this feat. Japan’s SLIM continues to offer valuable information about the Moon’s composition and history.