Landing on the Moon is no easy feat—only four countries have successfully done so, while many others have faced costly failures. That’s why Japan’s recent lunar mission marks a major milestone. Its Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM), known as Moon Sniper, has not only survived its challenging landing but has now withstood the brutal conditions of the lunar night—an achievement that exceeds all expectations.

A Historic Milestone for Japan

Moon Sniper touched down on the Moon on January 19, 2025, making Japan only the fifth country in history to achieve a successful lunar landing. The spacecraft landed near the Shioli Crater, about 322 km (200 miles) south of the Apollo 11 landing site in the Sea of Tranquility. However, the mission didn’t go entirely as planned. During its descent, Moon Sniper encountered an anomaly, causing it to land on its nose rather than upright. This led to a critical problem—its solar panels were facing west, limiting its ability to generate power.

Despite this setback, Moon Sniper managed to send back stunning images of the lunar surface before entering a dormant state. Mission engineers hoped that once the Sun’s angle changed, the lander might receive enough light to reactivate. In an incredible turn of events, that’s exactly what happened.

Surviving the Lunar Night—Three Times

One of the biggest challenges for any Moon mission is enduring the extreme temperature swings between day and night. During the lunar day, temperatures soar to 121°C (250°F), while at night, they plummet to -133°C (-208°F). These harsh conditions can destroy a spacecraft’s electronics and render it inoperable.

Amazingly, Moon Sniper has survived three lunar nights, reawakening each time to continue sending valuable data. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) credits this resilience to smart engineering, careful power management, and innovative use of onboard instruments. For example, instead of using traditional cameras, the team repurposed the lander’s star tracker, originally meant for navigation, to capture images of the lunar surface.

A Game-Changer for Future Missions

Moon Sniper’s precision landing—within just 55 meters (180 feet) of its target—demonstrates Japan’s advanced technology and could influence future lunar exploration. The lander’s ability to withstand multiple lunar nights is particularly significant as space agencies prepare for long-duration missions on the Moon, including NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to establish a permanent human presence there.

While other missions—such as India’s Chandrayaan-3 and the U.S.-based Intuitive Machines’ Odysseus lander—made historic landings, they were unable to survive the lunar night. Moon Sniper’s unexpected durability sets a new benchmark for future lunar missions, proving that with innovation and adaptability, even the harshest space environments can be conquered.

As more countries and private companies join the race to explore the Moon, the lessons learned from Moon Sniper will shape the next generation of lunar missions—paving the way for humanity’s return to the Moon and beyond.