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Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) announced on X, formerly Twitter, that it has successfully re-established communication with the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM), marking a significant breakthrough in lunar exploration.
"Last evening we succeeded in establishing communication with SLIM, and resumed operations," JAXA stated.
The agency wasted no time in initiating scientific observations with the lander's multiband spectroscopic camera (MBC), obtaining the first light for 10-band observation.
In a notable development, JAXA shared an image captured by the probe featuring a rock dubbed "toy poodle" observed near the lander, providing valuable insights into the lunar terrain.
The successful touchdown earlier this month positioned Japan as the fifth nation globally to achieve a soft lunar landing, following the footsteps of the United States, the Soviet Union, China, and India.
However, following the initial touchdown, JAXA encountered challenges in confirming whether the lightweight craft's solar batteries were generating power, raising concerns about the mission's viability.
The resumption of operations signifies a significant milestone for JAXA and Japan's space exploration endeavors, renewing hopes for further discoveries and scientific breakthroughs on the lunar surface.
As JAXA continues its mission, the global scientific community eagerly anticipates new insights and data from SLIM's observations, which could enhance our understanding of the Moon's geology and composition.
The successful re-establishment of communication underscores the resilience and ingenuity of JAXA's team, highlighting Japan's continued commitment to advancing space exploration and pushing the boundaries of human knowledge beyond Earth's confines.
The successful re-establishment of communication underscores the resilience and ingenuity of JAXA's team, highlighting Japan's continued commitment to advancing space exploration and pushing the boundaries of human knowledge beyond Earth's confines.
