Over two years after Japan’s Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) mission deployed a tiny, shape-shifting rover on the Moon, the country’s space agency JAXA has finally revealed previously unreleased details about the first-of-its-kind autonomous robotic lunar exploration.

According to a statement announcing the recently published mission account, the SLIM team deployed the rover on the Moon’s surface, “after which the rover transformed from a tiny sphere into a wheeled robot that took images of the lander and its environment.” A second rover transmitted the data back to Earth, with all steps occurring autonomously.

The team behind the historic mission said their success could pave the way for swarms of small, transformable robots capable of exploring high-scientific value areas that larger spacecraft and robots cannot reach, including caves, tunnels, lava tubes, vents, and deep extraterrestrial craters.

The Benefits of Tiny Robots and Autonomous Shape-Shifting Rovers

In the published study, the JAXA team explains that robotic technologies like SLIM “are expected to drive substantial advancements in planetary exploration and resource prospecting” by performing tasks in extraterrestrial environments that are inaccessible to other platforms, including human astronauts. For example, the team noted that miniature robots offer tremendous weight savings over bulkier platforms, especially when added to missions with “strict payload limitations.”

“Miniature robots have the potential to reduce payloads and to reach cramped spaces such as small vents and craters that are inaccessible to larger, conventional robots,” they explain.

Still, the SLIM team notes that building tiny, shape-shifting rovers capable of exploring a variety of complex environments presents its own set of challenges. The most limiting constraints involve computational power and battery capacity. The team also observed that smaller robotics platforms inherently suffer from “reduced locomotion performance” due to their small size.

Now, when revealing the details of the SLIM mission, the researchers note that advancements in miniaturization and computational performance spurred by the Internet of Things “have catalyzed the emergence of smaller, lighter, and more intelligent rovers at lower costs.”

Introducing the ‘Hopping’ Lev-1 and the ‘Transforming’ Lev-2

To build a tiny, shapeshifting robot capable of exploring the lunar surface autonomously, team leader Daichi Hirano and colleagues designed the Lunar Excursion Vehicle (LEV) system, which comprises LEV-1 and LEV-2. According to the team’s statement, LEV-1 can communicate directly with mission planners back on Earth. For locomotion, the robot moves via what the team termed “a controlled hopping mechanism.”

The second robot, LEV-2, starts out as a compact sphere 8 inches in diameter. However, once on the Moon, the mission controllers said that the tiny robot can transform into a “two-wheeled rover with cameras and a tail stabilizer.”

“Here, we introduce a two-wheeled centimeter-scale rover, designated Lunar Excursion Vehicle 2 (LEV-2), also known as SORA-Q (named after the Japanese words for space and sphere), which transforms into a wheeled configuration from a compact spherical form, enabling efficient traversal of soft lunar terrains,” they write.

Transformers Make Autonomous Robotic Exploration History

According to the new mission details, the SLIM lander deployed LEV-2 “immediately before its landing on the lunar surface.” In the mission details, the team explained that upon deployment, the rover autonomously extended its wheels, tail stabilizer, and cameras, “thereby enhancing its mobility and stability on soft lunar terrain.”

After deployment, LEV-2 navigated the lunar surface in the immediate area around the lander. According to the published study, “the palm-sized rover accomplished autonomous lunar exploration by navigating around the SLIM lander, capturing images of both the SLIM lander and its environment.” Critically, the rover’s exploration was autonomous and “without reliance on ground-based teleoperation,” marking a historic first in lunar exploration.

After finishing its exploration, the tiny robot transmitted images of its adventures to LEV-1. The hopping rover then transmitted the data to Earth. The team notes that all these steps were also accomplished autonomously.

The team notes that the LEV-2 shape-shifting rover operated for “more than 100 minutes: before losing communication with LEV-1. Although determining the exact cause may require direct examination of the two robots, Hirano’s team suspects that issues caused by LEV-1’s hopping motions or battery depletion “may have contributed to connectivity issues.”

Exploring High-Risk, Scientifically Valuable Environments

When discussing the implication of an autonomous, shape-shifting rover successfully navigating the lunar surface and completing its mission directives, the team concedes that the capabilities of a single, small rover like LEV-2 “are inherently limited.” However, they also note that their mission success highlights the potential of this category of robotic platform “as independent explorers, capable of accessing environments beyond the reach of a primary large spacecraft.” 

“Swarm-controlled small robots are poised to be deployed in high-risk yet scientifically valuable environments, such as vents, caves, and steep slope craters, that are inaccessible to larger, conventional rovers,” the researchers conclude. “This approach promises to enhance both the efficiency and safety of future planetary surface exploration.”

The study “From ball to rover: Transformable palm-sized rover SORA-Q for autonomous lunar exploration” was published in Science Robotics.

Christopher Plain is a Science Fiction and Fantasy novelist and Head Science Writer at The Debrief. Follow and connect with him on X, learn about his books at plainfiction.com, or email him directly at christopher@thedebrief.org.

Astronauts selected for NASA’s Artemis missions are traveling to outer space in style, the American space agency has revealed.

On June 7, Axiom Space and fashion empire Prada showcased their Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment (LCVG), designed to be worn by astronauts inside the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) spacesuit. 

The unveiling of the new garment by Prada and Axiom Space took place at Prada’s SoHo location in Manhattan just days before the announcement of the Artemis III crew, according to the New York Times fashion desk. With black-clad waiters circulating champagne and healthy juices through the Rem Koolhaas-designed venue, the intersection of fashion and space exploration was once again on full display.

 

“The future of space exploration will not be built by any one entity alone, and our partnership with Prada is proof of that,” said Dr. Jonathan Cirtain, Axiom Space CEO and President, in a statement.

“By bringing together the best in both aerospace engineering as well as luxury craftmanship and advanced product development, we have developed a garment that neither company could have created independently, and that is exactly the kind of cross-industry thinking that will define the next era of human spaceflight,” Cirtain added. 

Some might be surprised to learn this is not the first time NASA has collaborated with a fashion house. The first modern spacesuit was designed and crafted by a group of international designers at the Latex Corporation (ILC). In the 1960s, this company was best known for manufacturing bras and girdles.

Notably, a version of its A7L spacesuit was worn by Neil Armstrong during the Apollo 11 mission. Designers developed the A7L to protect astronauts from the harsh conditions of space and the lunar surface.

The suit was constructed using materials such as neoprene, Beta cloth—which helped protect astronauts from extreme temperatures—and aluminized Mylar. Overall, it was a highly complex, multilayered design.

The new LCVG collaboration draws on Prada’s expertise in knitting, craftsmanship, and advanced design. The resulting garment is a next-generation system developed using sophisticated 3D modeling techniques.

The suit is designed to maintain cooling and ventilation while remaining comfortable during spacewalks lasting up to eight hours. Thanks to its high-performance materials, it can also be worn repeatedly during long-duration missions.

“When we unveiled the AxEMU, we announced that the collaboration between Prada and Axiom Space would continue beyond that first milestone,” said Lorenzo Bertelli, Prada Group Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Sustainability, in a statement. 

“Today, we are proud to present a new achievement born from the unique combination of Axiom Space’s pioneering expertise and Prada’s know-how in design, patternmaking, and advanced materials, ahead of humanity’s return to the lunar surface,” Bertelli added.

In 2024, Axiom Space and Prada unveiled the AxEMU’s outer layer, designed to withstand the harsh conditions of the lunar South Pole. Their latest collaboration on the Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment builds on that partnership, focusing on astronaut comfort, thermal regulation, and reliability inside the spacesuit.

“We look forward to continuing this collaboration with Axiom Space, pushing boundaries and exploring new frontiers together,” adds Bertelli.

The LCVG keeps astronauts cool during spacewalks by circulating chilled water through tubes woven into the garment, removing body heat and venting it through the spacesuit. It also delivers fresh oxygen and removes carbon dioxide, helping astronauts remain safe and comfortable in the harsh environment of space.

“Every minute astronauts spend outside their vehicle, the LCVG is working to keep them safe,” said Russell Ralston, Axiom Space Senior Vice President of Spacecraft Development.

“It manages their thermal environment, supports their breathing, and does it all while they’re pushing their bodies to the limit,” Ralson added. “The work we have done with Prada has taken that capability to a level we could not have achieved alone.”

Chrissy Newton is a PR professional and the founder of VOCAB Communications. She currently appears on The Discovery Channel and Max and hosts the Rebelliously Curious podcast, which can be found on YouTube and on all audio podcast streaming platforms. Follow her on X: @ChrissyNewton, Instagram: @BeingChrissyNewton, and chrissynewton.com. To contact Chrissy with a story, please email chrissy @ thedebrief.org.

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A microscopic, shape-shifting robot inspired by children’s toys successfully saved the narrative of Japan’s historic first lunar landing, according to data finalized by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

The mini-rover, officially designated as Lunar Excursion Vehicle-2 (LEV-2) and nicknamed SORA-Q, was ejected from Japan’s Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) just moments before the main spacecraft suffered a catastrophic engine failure and flipped upside down on the lunar surface.

Newly released mission telemetry reveals that the baseball-sized mechanical sphere executed its transforming sequence flawlessly, crawling across the loose lunar soil to capture the iconic, mission-saving image of the inverted lander.

The Toy Engineering Behind the Sphere

Weighing a mere 250 grams (8.8 ounces) and measuring just 8 centimeters (3.1 inches) in diameter, SORA-Q represents an unprecedented cross-disciplinary engineering venture. JAXA co-developed the tiny explorer alongside Japanese toy manufacturing giant Takara Tomy—the original co-creators of the Transformers franchise—as well as Sony Group and Doshisha University.

The robot’s structural layout relies on mechanical principles utilized in transforming action figures. To survive the violent vibrations of spaceflight and the impact of dropping onto the Moon, SORA-Q remained packed into a smooth, metallic sphere.

Upon landing, the ball split down the middle, allowing the two outer hemispheres to extend outward as independent, eccentric wheels, while a small stabilizing tail deployed from the rear to prevent the body from spinning in place. This transforming design allowed a tiny camera package to pop upward from the core, clear of the dusty ground.

Surviving the Regolith: The Locomotion Modes

Operating on the Moon presents steep physical challenges for miniature mobile platforms. The fine, abrasive lunar dust—known as regolith—can easily jam delicate gears, and the lack of substantial gravity makes traditional wheel traction highly inefficient.

To overcome these environmental hurdles, JAXA and Takara Tomy programmed SORA-Q with two distinct physical locomotion modes to ensure it could navigate the unpredictable lunar surface.

In crawling mode, both hemispherical wheels rotate in perfect synchronization, creating a standard rolling motion that is highly energy-efficient for crossing flat terrain.

For tougher terrain, the robot switches to butterfly mode, where the wheels shift out of alignment and rotate asynchronously to mimic a swimming or flapping motion. This erratic movement allows the rover to push itself out of deep, shifting dust traps by continually shifting its center of gravity side to side.

Analysis confirms that the rover dynamically toggled between these modes, navigating slopes up to 15 degrees and crawling across several meters of rough terrain to position itself for its primary photography task.

Saving a mission via mesh networks

SORA-Q’s deployment was not just a mobility test; it proved to be an essential safety net for the entire SLIM mission. When the primary lander lost one of its main thrusters at an altitude of 50 meters, it touched down hard and tipped completely over, leaving its solar panels facing away from the sun and severely limiting its operational lifespan.

Because SORA-Q was too compact to house a heavy, power-hungry antenna capable of beaming data directly back to Earth, it relied on an innovative, local Bluetooth mesh network to relay its findings.

The tiny sphere filmed the tilted lander and transmitted the image files locally to its companion rover, LEV-1—a separate, 2.1-kilogram hopping robot that had ejected alongside it. LEV-1 then utilized its larger, dedicated S-band transponder to upload the data to ground stations on Earth.

The resulting photograph provided the first definitive visual proof of SLIM’s orientation on the lunar slope, enabling JAXA engineers to precisely calculate when the changing angle of the sun would hit the inverted solar cells and wake the lander back up.

By proving that ultra-lightweight, transforming mechanisms can survive the space environment, the success of SORA-Q is directly influencing the design of the next generation of compact planetary scouts, showing that heavy, rigid chassis are no longer the only way to explore foreign worlds.

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