Japan's Moon lander has been put back to sleep for two weeks to help it survive the lunar night, when temperatures plunge to -183°C.
Japan became the fifth nation to softly touch down on the Moon with the Smart Lander for Investigating the Moon (Slim) vehicle on January 19, although images released a week later showed that it had landed upside down.
Jaxa, the country's space agency, said after the landing that Slim's solar cells were not working properly, probably due to the incorrect orientation, forcing the agency to put the vehicle in hibernation mode.
It was revived a few days ago, and some science data was beamed back to mission control, but now it has been put back to sleep.
“Slim entered a two-week dormancy period during the long lunar night,” Jaxa posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday.
“Although Slim was not designed for the harsh lunar nights, we plan to try to operate again from mid-February, when the Sun will shine again on Slim’s solar cells.”
Slim used precision-landing technology that allowed it to touch down close to the designated spot on the surface.
The lightweight probe was sent to the Moon so engineers could improve the technology for exploration missions.
Before Japan, only the US, the former Soviet Union, China, and India in 2023, had managed a soft landing on the lunar surface.
Attempts were made in 2019 by India and Israel, Russia in 2022, by Japanese company ispace last year and an American company this year, but all failed.
India's moon lander Vikram and Pragyan rover operated on the Moon during the lunar day, which lasts about 14 days, but they did not survive the lunar night.
Soft landing is when a vehicle touches down gently on the Moon's surface without crashing, so that its hardware and instruments stay intact.
Moon-landing vehicles cannot use parachutes to slow for a touchdown as they can on Earth and Mars.
Instead, they need to use thrusters to brake and adjust their positioning to land softly on the surface.
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
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Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
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Countries offering golden visas
UK
Innovator Founder Visa is aimed at those who can demonstrate relevant experience in business and sufficient investment funds to set up and scale up a new business in the UK. It offers permanent residence after three years.
Germany
Investing or establishing a business in Germany offers you a residence permit, which eventually leads to citizenship. The investment must meet an economic need and you have to have lived in Germany for five years to become a citizen.
Italy
The scheme is designed for foreign investors committed to making a significant contribution to the economy. Requires a minimum investment of €250,000 which can rise to €2 million.
Switzerland
Residence Programme offers residence to applicants and their families through economic contributions. The applicant must agree to pay an annual lump sum in tax.
Canada
Start-Up Visa Programme allows foreign entrepreneurs the opportunity to create a business in Canada and apply for permanent residence.
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Elvis
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Company profile
Date started: January, 2014
Founders: Mike Dawson, Varuna Singh, and Benita Rowe
Based: Dubai
Sector: Education technology
Size: Five employees
Investment: $100,000 from the ExpoLive Innovation Grant programme in 2018 and an initial $30,000 pre-seed investment from the Turn8 Accelerator in 2014. Most of the projects are government funded.
Partners/incubators: Turn8 Accelerator; In5 Innovation Centre; Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Programme; Dubai Future Accelerators; FHI 360; VSO and Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3)