Against All Odds: Japan’s SLIM Lander Survives Three Nights on the Moon and Paves the Way for Future Exploration

On January 19, 2024, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s (JAXA) Smart Lunar Research Lander (SLIM) arrived on the Moon with a mission to test landing technology and collect geological data. Despite facing challenges such as landing upside down and being unable to collect solar energy due to its position, SLIM managed to continue operating and sending signals back to Earth after each lunar night.

The lander survived its third night on the Moon, even though it was not designed to withstand freezing temperatures that can drop to -170 degrees Celsius at night. JAXA shared the status of SLIM on April 23 after receiving a new photo of the lunar surface from the lander. The unexpected resilience of SLIM in surviving extreme conditions on the Moon has sparked further interest in lunar exploration and technology advancements.

Independent researchers like Chandra Tungathurthi in India have been using orbiters like Chandrayaan-2 to examine the Japanese lander and share their findings with the public. Meanwhile, JAXA plans to closely monitor SLIM’s status and address any potential problems that may arise. Despite potential damage due to the harsh lunar environment, SLIM’s basic functions remained intact after three lunar nights, exceeding expectations in terms of the spacecraft’s design.

The mission of SLIM has been a success despite its challenges, and it has opened up new possibilities for future lunar exploration missions.