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The lunar night is here again, posing yet another challenge to the two landers that recently arrived on the moon’s surface. Japan’s SLIM spacecraft and Intuitive Machines’ Odysseus have both gone to sleep after two weeks of darkness, both teams confirmed this weekend. There is no guarantee that they will be able to resume operations after that, but they will try to resume contact when the time is right.
Solar-powered landers aren’t built to withstand frigid lunar nights, but SLIM, which has been on the moon since January 19, had already shattered expectations by the time it succeeded last month. . It was Odysseus’ first moonlit night when he landed on February 22nd.
At 3 a.m. on March 1st (Japan time), the sun set in Shiori Crater. #slim I have entered a dormant period again. Repeated severe temperature cycles increase the chance of failure, but SLIM will attempt to restart when the sun comes up (in late March). #goodaftermoon pic.twitter.com/RHxNX1cmBF
— Small lunar landing demonstration vehicle SLIM (@SLIM_JAXA) March 2, 2024
Although the mission was a success in that the spacecraft survived each descent to the surface, it is yet another example of how difficult landing on the moon can be. Both landers fell and became stranded in non-ideal positions. Slim was faceplanted and Odysseus broke his leg and fell to the side.
SLIM was able to capture some images from the surface, and the team shared another look at Shiori Crater from its vantage point Thursday before it lost power. Odysseus also sent pictures from a wide-angle camera to his home. The last transmission before lunar night shows part of the lander, the moon’s surface, and a small crescent of Earth in the distance. But the world has been waiting for the third-person Eagle Cam photos created by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University students who were on board the Odysseus. Unfortunately, it seems unlikely that that will happen at this point.
Before his power ran out, Odysseus completed his befitting farewell transmission. This image received today, February 22nd, shows Earth with a crescent moon in the background, a subtle reminder of humanity’s presence in the universe.
Good night, Odie. I look forward to hearing from you… pic.twitter.com/RwOWsH1TSz
— Intuitive Machines (@Int_Machines) February 29, 2024
The camera did not deploy as originally planned by the moment of touchdown, and the intuitive machine said this week After Odysseus reached the surface, the team was able to power it up and eject it, but so far communication with the camera is not working. “The Embry‑Riddle team is working on it and we’re struggling to see if there’s anything we can do,” Intuitive Machines CEO Steve Altemus said Wednesday. The onset of moonlit nights does not increase that possibility.