In a surprising turn of events, the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM), developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), encountered a setback during its mission when images revealed that the spacecraft might be upside-down on the lunar surface. The captured snapshots indicated that SLIM had fallen down a crater slope, leaving its solar panels facing the wrong direction. This unexpected position caused a power outage, impacting the ability of SLIM's multi-band spectral camera to generate high-resolution images for studying moon rocks.

Despite this setback, JAXA remains optimistic as they anticipate a change in sunlight direction that could restore power to SLIM before the next lunar sunset on February 1. The mission, also known as the "moon sniper," had faced an engine glitch in the final phase, resulting in a slight deviation. JAXA's Sakai attributed the drift to one of the lander's main engines stopping during the touchdown. Nevertheless, SLIM successfully aimed for a 100-meter-wide target, showcasing the capabilities of its vision-based navigation system.

Apart from its landing accuracy, SLIM's mission holds unique significance. The spacecraft aims to analyze lunar rocks and provide valuable insights into the moon's potential water resources. This knowledge holds immense importance for future endeavors, including the possibility of building bases on the moon as potential stopovers on the way to Mars.

However, in an announcement from the JAXA Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, it was confirmed that communication had been re-established with SLIM on January 29, 2024. NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) flew over the landing site and acquired images, while JAXA successfully restored communication and resumed operations with SLIM.

This success comes at a pivotal time for Japan's space program, which had recently faced setbacks, including the launch failure of its H3 rocket in March. The triumph with SLIM rejuvenates Japan's aspirations of sending an astronaut to the moon as part of NASA's Artemis mission in the upcoming years.

The recent re-establishment of communication with SLIM showcases the resilience and innovation of Japan's space exploration efforts. As SLIM continues its operations, the world eagerly anticipates further discoveries that could reshape our understanding of the moon and pave the way for future lunar exploration missions.