Lunar and Planetary Institute
Lunar and Planetary Institute

 

 

SELENE (“KAGUYA”) Lunar Mission Launches Successfully

September 14, 2007
Source: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

SELENE ("KAGUYA")Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) launched the Lunar Orbit Explorer "KAGUYA" (SELENE) at 10:31:01 a.m. (Japan Standard Time, JST) on September 14, 2007, from the Tanegashima Space Center. The launch vehicle flew smoothly, and, at about 45 minutes and 34 seconds after liftoff, the separation of the KAGUYA was confirmed.

The major objectives of the mission are to understand the Moon’s origin and evolution and to observe the Moon in various ways in order to utilize it in the future. The lunar missions that have been conducted so far have gathered a large amount of information on the Moon, but the mysteries of its origin and evolution have been left unsolved.

KAGUYA will investigate the entire Moon in order to obtain information on its elemental and mineralogical composition, its geography, its surface and subsurface structure, the remnant of its magnetic field, and its gravity field. The results are expected to lead to a better overall understanding of the Moon’s evolution. At the same time, the observation equipment installed on the orbiting satellite will observe plasma, the electromagnetic field, and high-energy particles. The data obtained in this way will be of great scientific importance for exploring the possibility of using the Moon for human endeavors.

KAGUYA consists of the Main Orbiter and two small satellites (Relay Satellite and VRAD Satellite). Once the Main Orbiter has reached the Moon, it will be placed into peripolar orbit at an altitude of 100 km. The Relay Satellite will be placed in an elliptic orbit at an apogee of 2400 km, and will relay communications between the Main Orbiter and the ground station. The VRAD Satellite will play a significant role in measuring the gravitational field around the Moon. The Main Orbiter will be employed for approximately one year and will observe the entire Moon.

For more information, visit

SELenological and ENgineering Explorer "KAGUYA" (SELENE)

 

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Last updated January 30, 2008