On Sept. 13, 2007, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency launched the Kaguya spacecraft from Tanegashima Space Center. Formally known as SELENE—short for SELenological and ENgineering Explorer—the mission marked Japan’s second lunar endeavor.
The Tanegashima Liftoff and SELENE’s Ascent
An H-IIA rocket built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries carried the orbiter toward space to map the lunar surface in high definition and study the moon’s origin and evolution. Following its liftoff, Kaguya looped around the Earth twice before beginning its 20-day journey to the moon, according to mission logs.
Payload and Scientific Instrumentation
The spacecraft carried 14 scientific instruments alongside two microsatellites designed to capture detailed imagery and analyze gravitational fields across the lunar landscape.
Three-Spacecraft Architecture in Orbit
The mission relied on a coordinated three-spacecraft architecture to gather comprehensive data about Earth’s nearest neighbor. The primary component was a main orbiter accompanied by a small communications satellite and a third small satellite dedicated to mapping gravitational anomalies.
According to mission data, this configuration allowed researchers to maintain constant communication relay while simultaneously measuring regional variations in the moon’s gravity.
Remote Sensing and Atmospheric Findings
After arriving in lunar orbit, the spacecraft spent approximately one year conducting remote sensing operations, capturing high-definition terrain details, and detecting atomic oxygen originating from Earth that had traveled across space to the lunar surface, as noted by JAXA and NHK observations.
Controlled Lunar Impact and Scientific Legacy
The primary observational phase of the Kaguya mission concluded after roughly one year of active data collection in lunar orbit. In accordance with mission parameters, the spacecraft ended its operational lifespan through a planned, controlled impact onto the lunar surface.
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