Japan's SLIM lunar probe restored power after landing upside down

Japanese lunar exploration apparatus (SLIM) has been restored after it tipped over on January 20 after landing on the Moon, causing its solar panels to be misaligned. On Monday, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) announced that communication with the space probe SLIM has been restored and operations to search for information on the origin of the Moon have resumed.

JAXA hoped that changing the direction of the sunlight could help recharge the probe's battery. It is unknown how long this energy will last - the agency previously stated that SLIM was not designed to survive the lunar night, which will begin on Thursday, reports The Verge.

Images of the lunar surface taken by the SLIM multi-spectral camera before the spacecraft's energy was disconnected were published on January 25. Today, JAXA released another image of the rock formation "toy poodle," photographed by SLIM.

Communication with SLIM was successfully established last night, and operations resumed! Science observations were immediately started with the MBC, and we obtained first light for the 10-band observation. This figure shows the “toy poodle” observed in the multi-band observation.

Communication with SLIM was successfully established last night, and operations resumed! Science observations were immediately started with the MBC, and we obtained first light for the 10-band observation. This figure shows the “toy poodle” observed in the multi-band observation. pic.twitter.com/WYD4NlYDaG

— 小型月着陸実証機SLIM (@SLIM_JAXA) January 29, 2024