Surprise! Japan’s SLIM Moon Lander Wakes Up After a Freezing Night

Universe Today ^ | 26 February 2024 | ALAN BOYLE

[Fungi]

Looks like these “rocket scientists” aren’t so smart after all, and that includes those managing the one from Texas.

[Jamestown1630]

Why is it gold, and what is the gold material covering it?

[FlingWingFlyer]

The moon is starting to look like a dump. When is WM scheduled to send up a garbage truck?

[Rio]

Why is it gold, and what is the gold material covering it?

It is a thin plastic film called "aluminized Kapton". From one side it looks silver (aluminum) and from the other reflective orange-ish color.

[Magnum44]

Its Kapton thermal blanket, used for thermal control. Reflects sunlight heat away.

[ArtDodger]

Because gold is more expensive to the taxpayer. :/

[cgbg]

If NASA did it they would send up a garbage truck and a recycle truck—costs twice as much—good for contractors.

:-)

[gitmo]

My wife took all the covers last night, and I, too, woke up freezing.

[Magnum44]

You can do better? These missions are not easy. And they are being attempted on the cheap, so they dont get the rigorous fail safe testing a manned program would get. If they cost more than they did, the would never get funded.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

SNORT!!

[Jamestown1630]

Thanks.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Just how does an upside down lunar lander point its high-gain antenna at earth?

[Red Badger]

There was a TV show in the late 70’s based on that, starring Andy Griffith..............’Salvage 1’

[Red Badger]

Reflective mylar to keep the temperature down in sunlight...............

[butlerweave]

First ever almost head stand on the Moon ,LOL

[Rio]

I should add that the purpose of the Al/Kapton is heat management in an environment where the only heat transfer is radiation (no atmosphere). It reflects incoming IR radiation and also works to emit heat as IR from heat generated internally.

[Jamestown1630]

Thanks again. It’s easier to see in this model picture:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_Lander_for_Investigating_Moon#/media/File:SLIM_half_scale_model_(alt_cropped).png

[NorthMountain]

Looks like these “rocket scientists” aren’t so smart after all

I have no doubt you can do better ...

[FlingWingFlyer]

LOL! Never caught that one.