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Japan’s first moon lander responded to a signal from Earth, suggesting it has survived a week-long second cold lunar night, Japan’s space agency said Monday.
JAXA called the signal received late Sunday a “miracle” because the probe was not designed to survive lunar nights, when temperatures can drop to minus 170 degrees Celsius (minus 274 degrees Fahrenheit).
The spacecraft, Smart Lander for Investigating the Moon, or SLIM, made a “pinpoint” touchdown on Jan. 20, making Japan the fifth country to successfully land a probe on the Moon.
But the probe touched down incorrectly, leaving its solar panels initially unable to see the Sun and having to shut down within a few hours.
Also read: Japan’s Moon lander achieves successful soft landing, resumes operations
SLIM regained power on the eighth day after landing, when it encountered the Sun. SLIM collected geological data from moon rocks for several days, before going back into hibernation in late January to wait out another lunar night.
JAXA said Sunday’s communication was kept short because it was still “lunar noon” and SLIM was at a very high temperature, about 100 Celsius (212 Fahrenheit). JAXA is now preparing to re-contact once the vehicle has cooled.
Also read: India’s Chandrayaan-2 guides Japan’s SLIM mission to land on the moon
Scientists are hoping to find clues about the Moon’s origin by comparing the mineral composition of the Moon’s rocks and Earth’s.
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Published: Feb 27, 2024, 07:34 am IST
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