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Lunar night has come around again, presenting yet another test for the two landers that recently arrived on the moon\u2019s surface. Both Japan\u2019s SLIM spacecraft and Intuitive Machines\u2019 Odysseus have gone to sleep for the two-week-long stretch of darkness, the two teams confirmed at the end of this week. There\u2019s no guarantee that they\u2019ll be able to resume operations afterward, but they\u2019ll try to reestablish contact when the time comes.<\/p>\n
While the solar powered landers weren\u2019t built to withstand the frigid lunar night, SLIM \u2014 which has been on the moon since January 19 \u2014 has already beaten the odds before to pull through last month<\/a>. It\u2019ll be the first lunar night for Odysseus, which landed on February 22.<\/p>\n On March 1 at 3am JST, the sun set on the Shioli Crater and #SLIM<\/a> re-entered a period of dormancy. Although the probability of a failure increases with the repeated severe temperature cycles, SLIM operation will attempt to resume when the sun rises (late March). #GoodAfterMoon<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/RHxNX1cmBF<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 \u5c0f\u578b\u6708\u7740\u9678\u5b9f\u8a3c\u6a5fSLIM (@SLIM_JAXA) March 2, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n The missions, though successful in that the spacecraft survived their respective descents to the surface, stand as further examples of how challenging it is to land on the moon; both landers fell over, leaving them stuck in non-ideal positions. SLIM face-planted<\/a>, and Odysseus broke a leg and tipped onto its side<\/a>.<\/p>\n SLIM has been able to capture a few images from the surface, and the team shared another look at the Shioli crater from its perspective on Thursday before it powered down. Odysseus has sent home some pictures too from its wide-angle camera, including one last transmission before lunar night that shows a portion of the lander and the surface of the moon, with a tiny crescent Earth in the distance. But the world has eagerly been awaiting third-person POV pictures from the EagleCam made by students at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, which hitched a ride with Odysseus. Unfortunately, that doesn\u2019t seem likely to happen at this point.<\/p>\n Before its power was depleted, Odysseus completed a fitting farewell transmission. Received today, this image from February 22nd showcases the crescent Earth in the backdrop, a subtle reminder of humanity\u2019s presence in the universe. <\/p>\n Goodnight, Odie. We hope to hear from you\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/RwOWsH1TSz<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Intuitive Machines (@Int_Machines) February 29, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n The camera wasn\u2019t deployed as originally planned before the moment of touchdown, and while Intuitive Machines said this week<\/a> that the team was able to power it up and eject it after Odysseus reached the surface, communications with the camera so far aren\u2019t working. \u201cThe Embry\u2011Riddle team is working on that and wrestling with that to see if there\u2019s anything they can do,\u201d Intuitive Machines CEO Steve Altemus said on Wednesday. The onset of lunar night isn\u2019t going to help those odds.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
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