Against All Odds: The Resilience of SLIM, the Unstoppable Lander on a Moon Mission

On April 23, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) announced that the SLIM lander, or Smart Lunar Research Lander, was still operational after surviving its third night on the Moon. The lander was designed to withstand extreme temperatures and had not been expected to survive the freezing conditions that plummet as low as -170 degrees Celsius during the lunar night.

The SLIM spacecraft initially landed on the Moon on January 19, 2024, with the purpose of testing landing technology and collecting geological data. However, shortly after landing, it was discovered that the craft had landed upside down, preventing its solar panels from facing the Sun for energy collection. Despite this setback, SLIM managed to survive its first two lunar nights in February and March.

Despite predictions that drastic temperature drops from 100 degrees Celsius to -170 degrees Celsius would render the lander inoperable during each night, SLIM remained functional. In mid-April, it survived its third lunar night with no issues reported. JAXA is closely monitoring the spacecraft’s status for any potential problems arising from extreme day and night environments on the Moon.

Researchers and space enthusiasts alike are eagerly awaiting further updates on SLIM’s mission and discoveries made on the lunar surface due to its unexpected resilience and ongoing functionality in harsh conditions.