Japanese Moon Probe Reconnects with JAXA

Japan’s spacecraft named Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) landed on the Moon on January 20th. However, its engine failed at that time, leading it to have a rough landing. It stopped responding as its power was down. The Space Agency of Japan, JAXA, was able to communicate with the probe after some time.

After landing on the Moon, the spacecraft used up its battery power. It then waited for the sun to rise high in the sky, as it is powered by the Sun. After gaining power, SLIM is now studying the Moon to find out how it was first formed.

Japan’s spacecraft SLIM made Japan 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.