The first pictures of the Moon by the Japanese were also taken with Selene’s onboard cameras.

The Selene orbiter, and its two small satellites, will observe the Moon for at least one year, beginning as soon as all thirteen of its scientific instruments, along with a high-definition television camera, are verified to be working properly, sometime within the next month or so. The Moon will be investigated with respect to its composition, geography, and surface and subsurface structure. Its magnetic and gravitational fields will also be measured. Its mission is in preparation for Japan’s effort to land unmanned and manned spacecraft on the Moon.

Selene was launched by JAXA at 10:31 a.m. Japanese Standard Time (JST, 9:31 p.m. EDT, 0131 GMT) Friday, September 14, 2007.

The 110-pound (50-kilogram) Rstar, in a 60 by 1,440 mile (100 by 2,400 kilometer) orbit, relays signals between the ground controllers on Earth and the orbiter.

A second small satellite is scheduled to be released on or around October 14. Called VLBI ,for Very Long Baseline Interferometry satellite (also shortened to Vstar), it will measure the gravitational field of the Moon from its 60 by 480 mile (100 by 800 kilometer) orbit.

The Selene orbiter, officially called Selenological and Engineering Explorer, is positioned about 60 miles (100 kilometers) above the surface of the Moon.

The JAXA website showing Selene’s first pictures of the Moon appear at: http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2007/10/20071009_kaguya_e.html.

The JAXA website of Selene is: http://www.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/selene/index_e.html.


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