Produced by: Tarun Mishra
Japan's space agency, Jaxa, has confirmed Slim spacecraft's response to commands from Earth, demonstrating its resilience during the harsh lunar nights.
Slim spacecraft successfully endured its second lunar night, capturing new images of its landing site on the Moon.
Lunar nights are characterized by extreme cold due to the absence of an atmosphere, causing temperatures to plummet over the 14-day period.
Jaxa received confirmation of Slim's survival through the lunar night, albeit with some temperature sensor and battery malfunctions due to the cold.
Despite challenges, Slim maintains most functions after the second lunar night, showcasing its resilience in adverse lunar conditions.
Slim achieved a successful landing on the rim of Shioli Crater on January 19, 2024, overcoming engine troubles during descent.
Despite a nose-down landing, Slim fulfils mission objectives, awakening after ten days to capture valuable data about the lunar surface.
Unlike Chandrayaan-3, which failed to wake up after its mission ended, Slim continues to operate, surpassing expectations for lunar exploration.
Slim's endurance through frigid lunar nights underscores its significance in ongoing lunar research, providing invaluable insights into the Moon's surface.