Dying Moon Lander Sends Back Final Image Before the Long Lunar Night

Japan ’s SLIM , the Smart Lander for Investigation Moon , has insert a hibernating mode on the Moon ’s Shioli Crater , facing a 14 - day lunar night with temperatures dropping below -200 degrees Fahrenheit .

nighttime has devolve at Shioli Crater , and that intend it ’s likely the end of the line for SLIM . The lander has been placed into a hibernation mode from which it ’s not expected to ignite . But that does n’t intend Japan ’s distance agency , JAXA , wo n’t attempt to revivify the project in a couple of week . “ Although SLIM was not designed for the harsh lunar nights , we plan to examine to function again from mid - February , when the Sun will smoothen again on SLIM ’s solar cells , ” JAXAannouncedon X.

SLIM , which faced achallenging landingon January 19 due to a suspected thruster glitch , achieved a monumental feat by do a soft touchdown on the Moon . This acquisition make Japan the 5th country to achieve such a landing , following the United States , Soviet Union , China , and India . What ’s more , SLIM land within 180 feet ( 55 meter ) of its target , a result that surpassed Japan ’s initial goal of a landing within 321 feet ( 100 meters ) , signifying a big victory in the attempt to perform a preciseness landing .

Possibly the final image taken by SLIM, which the lander captured at dusk and prior to entering into a dormant state.

Possibly the final image taken by SLIM, which the lander captured at dusk and prior to entering into a dormant state.Image: JAXA/Gizmodo

SLIM becharm two mosaic prototype of the lunar control surface at different times , with one photo take immediately after landing and another after mogul regaining . Although both images show the same spot , the alter times of day resulted in clearly different apparition patterns . Afinal imagecaptured the onset of crepuscule , mark off the end of SLIM ’s participating time period and likely the last of the mission itself .

The Multi - Band Camera took an in - deepness look at lunar rocks and dust around the landing place site , capturing hundreds of images . These images uncover details invisible to the unaided eye and will assist scientist determine the chemic composition of the landing site . JAXA is sleuthing for olivine — a mineral that ’s primal to understanding the Moon ’s establishment and evolution .

SLIM may be done , but a second lander is anticipate to get through the Moon at or around February 22 , this one the in private establish Nova - C lander managed by U.S. company Intuitive Machines . The NASA - funded lander will seek to deliver five payloads belonging to the space agency , along with some commercial cargo . Hopefully this endeavor will go better than Astrobotic ’s Peregrine delegation , which launched on January 8 butfailed shortly after due to fatal fuel leakage .

Two mosaic images, taken of the same location but at different times of the day.