Japan’s Moon Lander Woke Up for a Third Time After Surviving Another Frigid Two-Week Lunar Night

Japan's space agency has made a groundbreaking announcement-its first moon lander has defied all odds and survived a third freezing lunar night. This remarkable feat, confirmed by an image of the device three months after its landing, is a testament to the resilience of our technological advancements.

Defying All Odds

According to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the lunar probe responded to a signal from the Earth on the night of April 23, indicating that it had survived another week-long lunar night.

On its X feed, JAXA shared an image captured by Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) as it emerged from its third lunar night on the moon. The photo, which shows the bright moon and very short shadows, was taken at the earliest lunar state so far after the overnight awakening. According to the space agency, they were able to successfully communicate with SLIM, which has started up again.

What truly captivates the imagination is that the Japanese lunar lander, a device not designed to withstand even one freezing cold night on the moon, has emerged victorious. It lacks a heater or special insulation to keep its electronics warm, yet it has managed to survive multiple lunar nights. This unexpected success raises intriguing questions about the limits of our technology.

Upon the lunar lander's arrival on January 19, 2024, its JAXA operators were quick to notice a problem. The device had tipped forward, resting on its nose, which meant its solar panels were not correctly oriented toward the Sun. This discovery, made in the early stages of the mission, adds to the remarkable nature of the lunar lander's survival.

The lunar night, a period of about 14 days when the moon's surface is not exposed to the Sun, poses extreme challenges. Temperatures can plummet from around 212 degrees Fahrenheit (100 degrees Celsius) to a bone-chilling 274 degrees Fahrenheit (-170 degrees Celsius). These conditions, which can be fatal for most equipment, were the ultimate test for the Japanese lunar lander.

While the probability of failure will increase due to repeated severe temperature cycles, scientists planned to try SLIM operations again the next time the Sun shines in late March. When operations were tried again in mid-March, JAXA discovered that the lander's main functions were still operational. This seems to be the case again as SLIM emerged from a lunar night in mid-April when it sent a message home.

While SLIM sends back images of the moon's surface, Indian independent researcher Chandra Tungathurthi uses the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter to check up on the Japanese lunar lander. According to Tungathurthi, he found SLIM using the Orbital high-resolution camera onboard Chandrayaan-2.

Surviving Lunar Night

One complete rotation of the moon lasts about 28 days on Earth. This means that the lunar night, when the moon's surface is not exposed to the Sun, lasts about 14 days. This long night cycle means that temperatures drastically drop and create an incredibly intense environment that can destroy the capabilities of most equipment.

The survival of the lunar lander during the harsh lunar night is not just a scientific achievement, but a beacon of hope for future missions. Very few moon landers are built to withstand nighttime temperatures on the moon, which can reach as low as -274 degrees Fahrenheit (-170 degrees Celsius). The operational viability demonstrated by this lander is a crucial factor in completing long-duration missions on the moon and establishing a long-term presence. This technology could also pave the way for exploring other thermally extreme environments, sparking optimism in the field of space exploration.