Japan's space agency, JAXA, announced that their moon lander, Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM), endured extreme conditions during its most recent lunar night on the moon. The probe experienced temperatures plummeting to minus 170 degrees Celsius during the night and soaring to around 100 degrees Celsius during the day, showcasing its ability to adapt to harsh climate changes on the lunar surface.
Upon landing on January 20, SLIM faced initial challenges as it touched down the wrong way with its solar panels unable to receive sunlight. However, the lander successfully powered back on after eight days when the sun rose, demonstrating its flexibility and resilience in overcoming obstacles. Despite not being originally designed to withstand lunar nights, SLIM has managed to surpass expectations by continuing to function and transmitting data back to Earth.
JAXA expressed on social media that SLIM's primary functions remain operational, emphasizing the agency's commitment to closely monitoring the lander's condition as it braves the challenging lunar environment. The mission's goal to test Japan's landing technology and gather valuable geological data and images from the moon aligns with the broader scientific community's quest to unravel the mysteries surrounding the moon's origin through the study of mineral compositions in moon rocks compared to those on Earth.