Rise and Shine: Japanese Moon Probe Back to Work After Sun Reaches Its Solar Panels

An image taken by a Lunar Excursion Vehicle 2 (LEV-2) of a robotic moon rover called Smart Lander for Investigating Moon, or SLIM, on the moon. JAXA/Takara Tomy/Sony Group Corporation/Doshisha University via AP

TOKYO—A Japanese moon explorer is up and running Monday after several tense days without the sunlight it needs to generate power.

Japan’s first lunar mission hit its target in a precision touchdown on Jan. 20, but landed the wrong way up, leaving its solar panels unable to see the sun.