Japan’s Moon Sniper is Back! New Images and Challenges of the SLIM Mission

In this video, I will talk about Japan’s Moon Sniper explorer, also known as SLIM, which is a robotic lander that was launched in 2023 to investigate a region of the moon where the moon’s mantle is exposed. The lander faced a power crisis after landing upside down on the lunar surface, and had to shut down for 10 days. But thanks to the changing angle of the sun, the lander was able to restore power and communication, and resume its scientific operations. The lander also captured and transmitted new images of the lunar surface using its multi-band camera. These images show us the details and features of the lunar region near the Shioli crater, where the moon’s mantle is exposed. They also show us the location and condition of the lander, which landed about 55 meters away from its target, making it the most precise lunar landing in history. The lander also deployed two probes that were detached from it, and that are still functioning and communicating with the Earth. One of the probes is a transmitter that rel