Japan’s probe survives the 2nd lunar night and is deactivated – 04/01/2024 – Science

The Japanese Slim probe, which landed on the Moon in January this year, was deactivated once again after enduring its second lunar night, with freezing temperatures equivalent to two Earth weeks. The announcement was made this Monday (1st) by the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (Jaxa).

Last Thursday (28), Jaxa announced that the module had withstood the terrible and long lunar night, when temperatures drop to -130 °C, and sent new images.

The probe had already faced a first lunar night in February.

Although the device’s lifespan exceeded the expectations of scientists, who did not design it for these harsh conditions, the Slim is beginning to show wear and tear.

“We control your status by successively turning on and off several of your devices”, Jaxa explained this Monday on the social network X (formerly Twitter).

The module’s multispectral camera, essential for its rock analysis, can be activated, but with some dysfunctionalities, according to the agency.

Since landing on January 20, Slim has alternated active phases with periods of rest.

Japan was the fifth country to successfully land on Earth’s satellite after the United States, Soviet Union, China and India.