Japan's moon lander has come back to life, the space agency said Monday, enabling the craft to proceed with its mission of investigating the lunar surface despite its rocky start. Its solar cells are working again after a shift in lighting conditions allowed it to catch sunlight.
The surprise announcement was a boost to Japan's space program, nine days after the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) touched down at a wonky angle that left its solar panels facing the wrong way.
"Last evening we succeeded in establishing communication with SLIM, and resumed operations!" JAXA said on social media platform X, posting a grainy image of a lunar rock known as a "toy poodle".
"We immediately started scientific observations with MBC, and have successfully obtained first light for 10-band observation," it said, referring to the lander's multiband spectroscopic camera.
PS: Last week JAXA announced that SLIM had landed 55 meters (60 yards) from its target. This meant that the "Moon Sniper" lived up to its nickname and landed within the 100-meter landing zone, much more precise than the usual range of several kilometers (miles). This itself is a major feat in engineering and JAXA described it as an "unprecedented pinpoint landing"..
The surprise announcement was a boost to Japan's space program, nine days after the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) touched down at a wonky angle that left its solar panels facing the wrong way.
"Last evening we succeeded in establishing communication with SLIM, and resumed operations!" JAXA said on social media platform X, posting a grainy image of a lunar rock known as a "toy poodle".
"We immediately started scientific observations with MBC, and have successfully obtained first light for 10-band observation," it said, referring to the lander's multiband spectroscopic camera.
PS: Last week JAXA announced that SLIM had landed 55 meters (60 yards) from its target. This meant that the "Moon Sniper" lived up to its nickname and landed within the 100-meter landing zone, much more precise than the usual range of several kilometers (miles). This itself is a major feat in engineering and JAXA described it as an "unprecedented pinpoint landing"..
