Japan's Maiden Lunar Lander Faces Power-Down Issue

Japan's maiden lunar lander has entered a power-down state on the moon due to a failure in solar cell electricity generation. Despite the historic success of the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) making a soft landing last week, the spacecraft encountered an issue with its solar cells post-landing. An official update from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) indicates that the solar cell problem is linked to a spacecraft "attitude" or pointing issue, rather than an intrinsic malfunction in the solar cells.

According to telemetry data, SLIM's solar cells are currently facing west. JAXA remains optimistic about a potential recovery, stating that if sunlight reaches the lunar surface from the west, there is a chance of power generation. The agency emphasized that SLIM relies solely on solar cell power and is making preparations for a recovery attempt. Meanwhile, the battery was intentionally disconnected at a 12% power level to prevent over-discharge, as part of the planned procedure.

Despite the setback, the mission achieved several notable successes, including the deployment of two rovers on the lunar surface. The landing descent and on-surface data collection were also highlighted as significant accomplishments. While the reasons for the spacecraft's misalignment post-landing have not been disclosed, JAXA is set to provide a further update on the spacecraft's status by the end of the week.

Despite the unexpected turn of events, JAXA expressed satisfaction with the mission's achievements and enthusiasm for analyzing the gathered data. The agency remains hopeful for potential recovery efforts and appreciates the valuable insights gained from this lunar exploration mission.