Day-long power outage: Japanese lunar probe sends first photos to Earth

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“Slim” on the moon: awakened to new life

Photo: JAXA / Takara Tomy / Sony Group Corporation / Doshisha University / AP / dpa

The Japanese probe “Slim” that landed on the moon has returned to operation after a power outage that lasted for days. As the Japanese space agency Jaxa announced on Monday, the solar panels are now apparently producing electricity. “Slim” (Smart Lander for Investigating Moon) landed on the lunar surface on January 20th, Japan time. However, the solar panels of the device, which was only 2.4 meters high, no longer provided any electricity after landing because they were facing west and thus away from the sun. The probe initially ran on battery power before being switched off.

"Communication with Slim was successfully established last night and operations have resumed!" Jaxa announced on the X platform. The probe is now also exploring the lunar surface and has successfully sent photos of boulders to Earth, including one called a “toy poodle,” it said. Jaxa assumes that despite their awkward orientation, the solar panels can produce electricity as soon as sunlight hits them from the western side of the moon.

After the former Soviet Union, the USA, China and India, Japan is the fifth country to achieve a soft landing on Earth's satellite. “Slim” set off for the moon on board an H2A carrier rocket from the Japanese Tanegashima spaceport in September. Jaxa was satisfied with the project despite the initial problems with the energy supply. Because the moon landing achieved an unprecedented accuracy of less than ten meters. It was said that “Slim” may have only landed about three to four meters from its destination.

“Slim” landed as planned near the Shioli crater in a low-lying area known as the “nectar sea.” The data obtained will be used in the planning of future lunar missions, for example as part of the US-led “Artemis” program. NASA wants to bring people to the moon again after more than 50 years - but the lunar landing mission "Artemis 3" was recently postponed to September 2026.

ani/dpa