Japan’s first lunar explorer in space

[Judi Lynn]

Source: UPI

Japan’s first lunar explorer in space
Published: 14, 2007 at 2:04 AM


TOKYO, 14 (UPI) -- Japan Friday overcame its earlier space project setbacks by successfully launching its first lunar orbiter, aptly named Kaguya after a moon princess.

The 3-ton Kaguya, carrying two 110-pound sub-satellites, carried by a H-2A rocket made by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, about 700 miles southwest of Tokyo, Kyodo news service reported.

The orbiter, equipped with 14 scientific instruments, will collect data on the moon’s surface terrain, gravity and other features which will help study its origin and evolution.

The report said the $480 million Kaguya project is the first full-scale lunar mission since the U.S. Apollo program in the 1960s and 1970s, and comes ahead of similar lunar missions planned by China, India and the United States.


Read more: http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Top_News/2007/09/14/japans_first_lunar_explorer_in_space/5055/

[knight_of_the_star]

1. Looks like someone is slowly laying the foundation blocks

Making sure that when we fall of the pedestal Japan won't be stuck having no means of looking out for itself and living politically under our coattails like we've kept them since 1945.

[comtec]

2. It's Gundam all over again!!! :)

The Japanese are actually develping technology based on their Animae!!!!!
Thats kind of scary, I've herad rumors that they have actually developed a basic Gundam type unit. It would be dead useful for heavy lifting, building, especially in space etc.. but.. damn!

[Art_from_Ark]

3. A little off topic, but

Tanegashima, a small island south of Kyushu that is Japan's version of Cape Canaveral/Kennedy, will be a whisker away from a total solar eclipse that will occur in July 2009 (total eclipse will occur a few miles to the south). It would be pretty cool to travel there to visit the space center and see the eclipse at the same time.

[Vidar]

4. I'm glad they're getting into it. In contrast to the US' start-and-stop

programs,Japan knows how to plan long-term, for generations & centuries.

[Ian David]

5. All Your Moon Are Belong To Us! n/t