Japan's SLIM lunar lander unexpectedly survived a lunar night, reestablished communication, and performed scientific observations.
Japan's Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) has unexpectedly survived a two-week lunar night, reestablishing communication with Earth. The unmanned lunar lander, which touched down last month and tilted at an angle with its solar panels facing the wrong way, regained power due to a shift in sunlight direction. SLIM successfully performed scientific observations during its brief awakening period before going back to sleep during darkness.
February 26, 2024
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