Photo/Illutration A reconstructed image from SLIM's lunar landing data shows the probe, sitting on the moon’s surface, from two perspectives: north, left icon, and west, right icon. The probe's solar panels appear to be facing west. (Provided by JAXA)

Japan’s space agency announced on Jan. 22 that its lunar probe, which landed on the moon two days earlier, has transmitted flight data and images back to Earth.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is analyzing data expected to confirm the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) probe’s pinpoint landing, within 100 meters of the target location.

Although the probe’s solar panels failed to generate power, SLIM transmitted the data using its built-in battery before JAXA engineers turned off the power at 2:57 a.m. on Jan. 20, about two and a half hours after the landing.

The spacecraft is currently in a “dormant state,” according to JAXA.

“We are relieved and excited to have gained a lot of information,” said the agency’s project team on the social media platform X.

JAXA has learned that SLIM’s solar panels are facing west, away from the sunlight.

If sunlight hits the solar cells from the west as the moon orbits the Earth, SLIM may “wake up,” the agency said.

“We are keeping our hopes up that sunlight will hit the probe to restart it, with fingers crossed,” said a JAXA official.

Although the probe’s battery has 12 percent of its power left to prepare for a restart, its potential revival remains uncertain.

Even if the solar panels had been working properly, the mission was scheduled to be completed in several days due to the harsh conditions on the moon.

Semiconductors and other delicate components in SLIM may be damaged by the moon’s extreme temperatures, which can top 100 degrees due to the lack of atmosphere on the lunar surface.

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