Japan's spacecraft with depleted battery back in operation

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) announced that the unmanned spacecraft SLIM (Smart Lander for Investigating Moon), which made a successful landing on the Moon on January 19 but was kept powered down for a week due to power supply issues, has resumed operations.

Good news has arrived regarding Japan's soft lunar landing mission. In a statement made by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), it was noted that contact has been re-established with the SLIM (Smart Lander for Investigating Moon) spacecraft, which had landed successfully on the Moon on January 19 but was kept powered down for a week due to power supply problems. It was emphasized that the malfunction was resolved as SLIM's panels began to capture sunlight, and it was reported that the unmanned spacecraft has resumed its activities.

IT WILL COLLECT TOPOGRAPHICAL DATA ON THE MOON

Called the "Moon sniper," SLIM will collect topographical data, such as the shapes of lunar craters, thanks to the imaging technologies on board. Furthermore, it is expected to become a powerful tool in the exploration of the lunar poles, which are seen as potential sources of oxygen, fuel, and water.

IT WAS OPERATING ON ITS OWN BATTERY

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) had announced that the unmanned spacecraft named SLIM, which it sent into orbit in September, performed a soft landing on the Moon on January 19. Following the successful landing, it was reported that the spacecraft had re-established communication with Earth but could not generate electricity, likely because its solar panels were at the wrong angle, and a statement was made saying, "SLIM is currently operating only on its own battery." Considering the possibility of the angle of sunlight changing, officials had decided to power down SLIM.