NASA is giving its struggling Lunar Trailblazer spacecraft a crucial lifeline, extending recovery efforts to mid-July. However, the agency warns that the mission's future hangs in the balance if communication remains silent.

Lost just one day after its launch on February 26, Lunar Trailblazer initially relayed engineering data but soon fell silent due to troubling power system issues. Specialists believe the spacecraft may have slipped into a low-power state, possibly due to solar panels being misaligned and failing to adequately charge its batteries.

Since the loss of contact, the dedicated Lunar Trailblazer team has been tirelessly attempting to reestablish communication. Should they succeed, the spacecraft's instruments are still intact, and its propulsion system appears functional. This could allow it to achieve an elliptical orbit while still accomplishing significant lunar scientific objectives, even if not precisely as planned.

To assist in locating the spacecraft, ground-based optical and radio telescopes have been deployed, and various global organizations have lent their radio antennas to listen for any signal from Lunar Trailblazer.

However, there's a catch: as the spacecraft distances itself from Earth, communication becomes increasingly frail, complicating any efforts to regain control or receive telemetry.

A glimmer of hope emerged as NASA extended its recovery timeline, with updated models suggesting that optimal light conditions could allow the probe to generate enough power to reactivate its systems. But once this new time frame runs out, the agency may have to confront the grim decision of ending the mission.

Lunar Trailblazer, weighing in at 200 kg (440 lb), is designed to create high-resolution maps of the Moon’s surface, pinpointing the location and variability of water. This mission was born from NASA's SIMPLEx initiative, aimed at affordable yet high-risk exploratory missions that could launch as secondary payloads.

As the clock ticks down, the battle to regain contact with Lunar Trailblazer continues to unfold. Can NASA pull off a miracle and save this vital lunar explorer?