The robotic SLIM spacecraft successfully landed on the lunar surface on the morning of January 19, making Japan the fifth nation to achieve a soft landing on the Moon.

Yamakawa Hiroshi, President of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), expressed satisfaction during a post-landing press conference, stating, “First and foremost, landing was successful.

ALSO READ: Power outages affect over 45,000 homes after recent earthquake in Japan

We should be able to access the lunar surface. I believe that there is a path opening to that now.”

However, the joy was tempered by the discovery that the robot’s solar cells were not functioning properly, and the reasons remain unclear.

Currently, all surface operations are reliant on SLIM’s batteries, and the lander may have only a few hours of operational life left.

Engineers are working on prioritizing activities, including turning off heaters and retrieving data to assess the effectiveness of the landing software.

Although the solar cells issue poses a challenge, officials are not giving up on SLIM immediately.

There is a possibility that the solar cells could be reoriented to capture sunlight, and the agency is hopeful that SLIM might regain power when the solar angle changes.

Hitoshi Kuninaka, Director-General of the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science and vice-president of JAXA, mentioned at a news conference that they are cautious not to take excessive measures.

He noted that SLIM’s remaining life is tied to its battery, and they are hoping for a change in the solar angle to potentially revive the spacecraft.

ALSO READ: Google under investigation by Japan’s anti trust watchdog

SLIM, short for “Smart Lander for Investigating Moon,” was launched in September, accompanying an X-ray space telescope called XRISM.

While SLIM faces challenges with its solar cells, the successful landing itself marks a significant milestone in Japan’s space exploration endeavors.