Japan's Slim lunar lander rejuvenates and resumes its mission

After the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (Jaxa) regained contact with its Moon lander, it has begun observing its surroundings and transmitting new images to Earth. The lander is conducting analysis that could provide valuable information for future Moon missions. The craft is tilted at a difficult angle with its solar panels facing away from the sunlight, rendering them unable to generate power. As a result, the decision was made to put the lander into sleep mode to conserve what little power remained. Recently, a change in the direction of sunlight has awakened the craft. The mission team has already examined images of the landing site and named specific rocks after dog breeds to indicate their size. They have also released an image of a rock called "toy poodle" using the Multi-Band Camera, which can determine the composition of the rock. This information will help scientists understand the Moon's history and identify potential resources for future missions, such as fuel or water. Despite uncertainties about how long the craft can continue operating, mission engineers have accomplished their goal of landing within 100 meters of the intended site.