An image captured by the LEV-2 compact robot showcased the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) probe on the lunar surface, along with the robot's wheels in the foreground. This moment marked the tiny machine's release from the SLIM just before its landing on the moon's surface. The successful landing of the SLIM probe was a significant achievement for Japan's space exploration efforts, positioning the country as the fifth nation to land a probe on the moon.
Despite facing challenges shortly after landing, such as running out of power due to tipping over and misaligned solar panels, the SLIM moon lander surprisingly managed to survive the freezing lunar night and regain electricity through a change in the sunlight's direction. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency had initially expressed doubts about the probe's ability to endure the lunar night, making its successful communication re-establishment with Earth even more remarkable. The competition for lunar exploration has been intensifying, with U.S.-based Intuitive Machines' Odysseus also recently landing on the moon, reflecting the global interest in leveraging space resources and investigating human habitability on the moon.