Japanese space agency, The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) on Monday (Aug 26) announced that it has ended its Moon lander operation. The decision as per reports was taken after the space agency lost communication with the uncrewed spaceship last week.

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:84,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:25,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1773}">No prospect of restoring communication</h2>

Taking to social media platform X, The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) wrote that there was no response from The Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM). The agency tried to communicate with SLIM last week after three frigid lunar nights or six cold weeks — in Earth time.

"We judged that there was no prospect of restoring communication with SLIM, and at around 22:40 (1340 GMT) on August 23, we sent a command to stop the SLIM activity," said the space agency.

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Nearly a year after launching the operation, it said that "SLIM continued to transmit information on its status and the surrounding environment for a much longer period than expected."&nbsp;

"At the time of launch, no one imagined that the operation would continue this long," it added.

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:360,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:25,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2049}">Moon Sniper</h2>

Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) or the "Moon Sniper" as it has been nicknamed for its landing precision, touched down on the lunar surface eight months ago.&nbsp;

With the touchdown in January, Japan became only the fifth nation to achieve a soft landing on the moon. However, SLIM landed on the lunar surface at a wonky angle, due to which its solar panels were left facing the wrong way.

Once the sun's angle shifted, the SLIM lander came back to life for two days. At that time, it carried out scientific observations of the lunar crater with a high-spec camera.

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Even though it was not designed to withstand the frigid, two-week-long lunar nights where the temperature plunges to minus 133 degrees, it woke up for a third time in April.

The SLIM mission sought to examine a part of the Moon's mantle — the deep inner layer beneath the satellite's crust. As per estimates, it was accessible through the crater where SLIM landed. The Japanese spacecraft carried out two probes — one with a transmitter and a mini-rover that, as per AFP, moves in a similar manner as a turtle. Moving around the lunar surface, it beamed images back to Earth.

(With inputs from agencies)

Japanese space agency, The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) on Monday (Aug 26) announced that it has ended its Moon lander operation. The decision as per reports was taken after the space agency lost communication with the uncrewed spaceship last week.

Japanese space agency, The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) on Monday (Aug 26) announced that it has ended its Moon lander operation. The decision as per reports was taken after the space agency lost communication with the uncrewed spaceship last week. No prospect of restoring communication Taking to social media platform X, The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) wrote that there was no response from The Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM). The agency tried to communicate with SLIM last week after three frigid lunar nights or six cold weeks — in Earth time. "We judged that there was no prospect of restoring communication with SLIM, and at around 22:40 (1340 GMT) on August 23, we sent a command to stop the SLIM activity," said the space agency. Also read | Aliens may be exploiting miniature black hole 'moons' for energy: Study Nearly a year after launching the operation, it said that "SLIM continued to transmit information on its status and the surrounding environment for a much longer period than expected." "At the time of launch, no one imagined that the operation would continue this long," it added. Moon Sniper Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) or the "Moon Sniper" as it has been nicknamed for its landing precision, touched down on the lunar surface eight months ago. With the touchdown in January, Japan became only the fifth nation to achieve a soft landing on the moon. However, SLIM landed on the lunar surface at a wonky angle, due to which its solar panels were left facing the wrong way. Once the sun's angle shifted, the SLIM lander came back to life for two days. At that time, it carried out scientific observations of the lunar crater with a high-spec camera. Also read | NASA astronaut captures mesmerising scene of moon setting above the Pacific Even though it was not designed to withstand the frigid, two-week-long lunar nights where the temperature plunges to minus 133 degrees, it woke up for a third time in April. The SLIM mission sought to examine a part of the Moon's mantle — the deep inner layer beneath the satellite's crust. As per estimates, it was accessible through the crater where SLIM landed. The Japanese spacecraft carried out two probes — one with a transmitter and a mini-rover that, as per AFP, moves in a similar manner as a turtle. Moving around the lunar surface, it beamed images back to Earth. (With inputs from agencies)

Japan's SLIM takes the final bow, lunar mission shut down after lost communication

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Japan's SLIM takes the final bow, lunar mission shut down after lost communication