Japan hopes sunlight can save stricken Slim Moon lander - BBC News

The Slim spacecraft was switched off after failing to generate power - but the Sun may now revive it.

4 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, JaxaImage caption, An artist's impression of how the lander might look on the Moon's surfaceBy Jonathan AmosScience correspondentJapan may yet manage to salvage its Moon lander, the country's space agency Jaxa says - if sunlight hits it in the right place.

The Slim spacecraft was turned off just three hours after its historic lunar touchdown on Saturday to save power.

Engineers had realised its solar cells were pointing west, away from the Sun, and could not generate electricity.

But the mission team is now hopeful the situation could improve as lighting conditions shift.

"If sunlight hits the Moon from the west in the future, we believe there's a possibility of power generation, and we're currently preparing for restoration," the Jaxa statement read.

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