SELENE

File:Japanese Fairy Book - Ozaki - P118.png

The orbiter's nickname, Kaguya, was selected by the general public. It comes from the name of a lunar princess in the ancient Japanese folktale The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter.{{cite web|url=http://www.jaxa.jp/countdown/f13/special/nickname_e.html| title="KAGUYA" selected as SELENE's nickname| access-date=October 13, 2007}} After their successful release, its sub-satellites, Rstar and Vstar, were named Okina and Ouna, also derived from characters in the tale.{{cite press release | url=http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2007/10/20071012_kaguya_e.html | title=KAGUYA (SELENE) / Result of the Separation of the VRAD Satellite (Vstar) | date=October 12, 2007 | access-date=October 13, 2007 | archive-date=2012-03-20 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320205250/http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2007/10/20071012_kaguya_e.html | url-status=dead }}

The main scientific objectives of the mission were to:

• Study the origins{{Broken anchor|date=2024-05-26|bot=User:Cewbot/log/20201008/configuration|target_link=Moon#Origin and geologic evolution|reason= The anchor (Origin and geologic evolution) has been deleted.}} of the Moon and its geologic evolution
• Obtain information about the lunar surface environment

Image:H-IIA F13 launching KAGUYA.jpg

SELENE launched on September 14, 2007, at 01:31:01 UTC on an H-IIA (Model H2A2022) carrier rocket from Tanegashima Space Center into a {{convert|281.55|km|adj=on}} (perigee) / {{convert|232960|km|adj=on}} (apogee) geocentric parking orbit.{{cite web | url = http://planetary.org/news/2007/0914_Kaguya_Rockets_Toward_the_Moon.html | title = Kaguya Rockets Toward the Moon | access-date = September 15, 2007 | author = Emily Lakdawalla | date = September 14, 2007 | archive-date = 2012-02-06 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120206131248/http://planetary.org/news/2007/0914_Kaguya_Rockets_Toward_the_Moon.html | url-status = dead }}{{cite web | url=http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2007/09/20070919_sac_h2a-f13.pdf | title=H-IIAロケット13号機による月周回衛星「かぐや」の打上げ結果について（速報） | language=ja |access-date=September 19, 2007 |author=MHI / JAXA}} The total launch mass was {{convert|3020|kg}}.{{cite web | url = http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2007/06/20070613_sac_h2a-f13.pdf | title = 平成19年度夏期ロケット打ち上げおよび追跡管制計画書 (Rocket Launch and Tracking Control Plan, Summer 2007) | publisher = MHI / JAXA |language=ja}}

The SELENE mission was originally scheduled to launch in 2003, but rocket failures on another mission and technical difficulties delayed the launch until 2007.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6994272.stm|title=Japan launches first lunar probe |date=September 14, 2007|access-date=September 14, 2007 | work=BBC News}} Launch was planned for August 16, 2007, but was postponed when some electronic components were found to be installed incorrectly.{{cite web|url=http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2007/07/20070720_kaguya_e.html|title=Launch Postponement of the KAGUYA (SELENE)|date=July 20, 2007|access-date=August 15, 2007}}

On October 3, it entered an initial {{convert|101|to|11741|km|adj=on}} polar lunar orbit.{{cite press release | url=http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2007/10/20071005_kaguya_e.html | title=KAGUYA (SELENE) Result of the Lunar Orbit Injection Maneuver (LOI1) – Lunar orbit injection was confirmed| date=October 5, 2007 | access-date=October 5, 2007 | publisher=JAXA | archive-date=2012-05-14 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120514023250/http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2007/10/20071005_kaguya_e.html | url-status=dead }}

On October 9, the relay satellite was released into a {{convert|100|to|2400|km|adj=on}} orbit, while on October 12 the VLBI satellite was released into a {{convert|100|to|800|km|adj=on}} one. Finally, by October 19, the orbiter was in a circular {{convert|100|km|adj=on}} orbit.{{cite web|url=http://www.jaxa.jp/countdown/f13/index_j.html|title= かぐや/H-IIA13号機 打上げ特設サイト|language=ja|access-date=October 1, 2007}} The nominal mission duration was one year plus possible extensions.

On October 31, 2007, Kaguya deployed its Lunar Magnetometer, Lunar Radar Sounder, Earth-looking Upper Atmosphere and Plasma Imager. On December 21, 2007, Kaguya began regular operations after all fifteen observation experiments had been satisfactorily verified.

Kaguya completed the planned operation by the end of October 2008 and began extended operations planned to continue through March 2009. It would then be sent into a circular {{convert|50|km|adj=on}} orbit, and finally to an elliptical {{convert|20|to|100|km|adj=on}} one, with a controlled impact occurring by August 2009.{{cite web |title=月周回衛星「かぐや（SELENE）」の定常運用終了と後期運用計画について |url=http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2008/11/20081105_sac_kaguya.pdf |language=ja |date=November 5, 2008 |access-date=November 5, 2008}} Because of a degraded reaction wheel, the plan was changed so that on February 1, 2009, the orbit was lowered to {{convert|50|km}} ± {{convert|20|km}},{{cite web |title=月周回衛星「かぐや（SELENE）」の 状況について |url=http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2009/02/20090218_sac_kaguya.pdf |language=ja |date=February 18, 2009 |access-date=February 22, 2009}}

and impact with lunar surface occurred at 18:25 UTC on June 10, 2009.

The mission featured three separate spacecraft:

• Shape: octagonal prism
• Mass: {{convert|2914|kg}}
• Size: 2.1 x 2.1 x 4.8 m (6.9 x 6.9 x 16 ft)
• Attitude control: Three-axis stabilized
• Power: 3.5 kW (Max.)
• Mission period: 1 year
• Mission orbit: Circular, {{convert|100|km|adj=on}}
• Inclination: 90 degrees

Okina (formerly Rstar) and Ouna (formerly Vstar) were octagonal prisms to support radio science. Okina relayed radio communications between the orbiter and the Earth when the orbiter was behind the Moon. This allowed, for the first time, the direct Doppler shift measurements needed

to precisely map the gravitational field of the lunar farside; previously, the farside gravity field could only be inferred by nearside measurements. The relay satellite impacted the lunar farside near the Mineur D crater at 19:46 JST (10:46 UTC) on February 12, 2009.

• Function: two-way radio science relay, orbiter-earth
• Mass: {{convert|53|kg}}
• Size: 1.0 x 1.0 x 0.65 m (3.3 x 3.3 x 2.1 ft)
• Attitude control: spin-stabilized
• Power: 70 W
• Initial orbit: {{convert|100|to|2400|km}}
• Inclination: 90 degrees

Ouna used Very Long Baseline Interferometry as a second way to map the Moon's gravity field. It was especially useful at the lunar limb, where the gravitational acceleration is perpendicular to the line of sight to Earth, making Doppler measurements unsuitable.

• Function: VLBI radio science
• Mass: {{convert|53|kg}}
• Size: 1.0 x 1.0 x 0.65 m (3.3 x 3.3 x 2.1 ft)
• Attitude control: spin-stabilized
• Power: 70 W
• Initial orbit: {{convert|100|to|800|km}}
• Inclination: 90 degrees

File:Earth_at_11000_km.jpg

SELENE carried 13 scientific instruments "to obtain scientific data of the lunar origin and evolution and to develop the technology for the future lunar exploration":{{cite web |url=http://www.selene.jaxa.jp/index_e.htm |title=Kaguya (SELENE) |access-date=June 25, 2007 |publisher=JAXA}}

• Terrain camera (TC) (resolution 10 meters [33 ft] per pixel){{cite web |url=http://www.selene.jaxa.jp/en/equipment/tc_e.htm |title=LISM [TC, MI, SP] |access-date=June 25, 2007 |work=Kaguya (SELENE) |publisher=JAXA}}
• X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRS)
• Lunar magnetometer (LMAG)
• Spectral profiler (SP) (resolution per pixel: 562 x 400 m [1840 x 1310 ft)
• Multi-band imager (MI) (resolution of visible light 20 [66 ft] meters per pixel, near-infrared 62 meters [200 ft] per pixel)
• Laser altimeter (LALT)
• Lunar radar sounder (LRS)
• Gamma ray spectrometer (GRS)
• Charged particle spectrometer (CPS)
• Plasma analyzer (PACE)
• Upper atmosphere and plasma imager (UPI)
• Radio wave repeater (RSAT) aboard Okina
• Radio wave source for VLBI (VRAD) aboard Okina and Ouna

Two 2.2 megapixel CCD HDTV cameras, one wide-angle and one telephoto, were also on board, primarily for public outreach.{{cite web |url=http://www.kaguya.jaxa.jp/en/equipment/hdtv_e.htm |title=KAGUYA (SELENE) – Mission Instruments – HDTV |access-date=March 1, 2009}} The HDTV system, developed by NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation), produced over 1.3 TB of video and stills over 19 months.{{cite journal|url=https://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2009/pdf/2540.pdf|title=Results of High-Definition Television System (HDTV) on Board SELENE (KAGUYA)|journal=40th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (2009)|access-date=9 December 2022}}

JAXA collected names and messages that were carried on SELENE through their "Wish Upon the Moon" campaign.{{cite press release | title =Send a New Year's Message to the Moon on Japan's SELENE Mission: Buzz Aldrin, Ray Bradbury and More Have Wished Upon the Moon | publisher =The Planetary Society | date =January 11, 2007 | url =http://www.planetary.org/about/press/releases/2007/0111_Send_a_New_Years_Message_to_the_Moon.html | access-date =July 14, 2007 | archive-date =2012-02-12 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20120212094535/http://www.planetary.org/about/press/releases/2007/0111_Send_a_New_Years_Message_to_the_Moon.html | url-status =dead }} 412,627 names and messages were printed on a sheet measuring 280 mm x 160 mm (11 x 6.3 in) at 70 μm (0.0003 in) per character. The sheet was installed under the photovoltaic modules and cooling panels beneath the multi-layered insulation.{{cite web |url=http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/j/new/event/selene_camp/topics.shtml |title=セレーネ「月に願いを!」(SELENE "Wish Upon the Moon!") |access-date=July 14, 2007 |date=2007 |publisher=JAXA |language=ja |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070404082251/http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/j/new/event/selene_camp/topics.shtml |archive-date=April 4, 2007 }}

Major results include:

• Improved lunar global topography maps.{{cite journal |title=Lunar Global Shape and Polar Topography Derived from Kaguya-LALT Laser Altimetry |author=H. Araki |display-authors=etal |journal=Science |issue=5916 |pages=897–900 |date=February 13, 2009 |doi=10.1126/science.1164146 |volume=323 |pmid=19213910|bibcode = 2009Sci...323..897A |s2cid=2115707 }} This detailed altitude and geological data was provided to Google for free to make Google Moon 3-D.
• Detailed gravity map of the far side of the Moon.{{cite journal |title=Farside Gravity Field of the Moon from Four-Way Doppler Measurements of SELENE (Kaguya) |author=N. Namiki |display-authors=etal |journal=Science |issue=5916 |pages=900–905 |date=February 13, 2009 |doi=10.1126/science.1168029 |volume=323 |pmid=19213911|bibcode = 2009Sci...323..900N |s2cid=5306227 }}
• First optical observation of the permanently shadowed interior of the crater Shackleton at the lunar south pole.{{cite journal |title=Lack of Exposed Ice Inside Lunar South Pole Shackleton Crater |author=J. Haruyama |display-authors=etal |journal=Science |issue=5903 |pages=938–939 |date=November 7, 2008 |doi=10.1126/science.1164020 |volume=322 |pmid=18948501 |bibcode=2008Sci...322..938H|s2cid=20749838 |doi-access=free }}
• Evidence of Earth's oxygen being transported to the Moon via magnetospheric ions.{{cite journal |first1=Kentaro |last1=Terada |first2=Shoichiro |last2=Yokota |first3=Yoshifumi |last3=Saito |first4=Naritoshi |last4=Kitamura |first5=Kazushi |last5=Asamura |first6=Masaki |last6=Nishino |date=January 30, 2017 |title=Biogenic oxygen from Earth transported to the Moon by a wind of magnetospheric ions |journal=Nature Astronomy |volume= 1|issue= 2|pages= 0026|doi=10.1038/s41550-016-0026 |bibcode=2017NatAs...1E..26T |s2cid=85560607 }}

SELENE was part of a renewed global interest in lunar exploration; it was "the largest lunar mission since the Apollo program".{{cite web |url=http://www.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/selene/index_e.html |title=SELENE: The largest lunar mission since the Apollo program |access-date=April 21, 2008 |archive-date=2013-10-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131024124342/http://www.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/selene/index_e.html |url-status=dead }} It followed Japan's first lunar probe, Hagoromo, launched in 1990.{{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1990-007A | title=Hiten | publisher=NASA | access-date=September 14, 2007}} China launched its Chang'e 1 lunar explorer on October 24, 2007, followed by India's October 22, 2008 launch of Chandrayaan-1 and the United States Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter in June 2009. The United States, European countries (ESA), Russia, Japan, India and China are planning future crewed lunar exploration missions or lunar outpost construction on the Moon between 2018 and 2025.{{cite web |url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:H.R.6063: |title=NASA Authorization Act of 2008 – Section 404 – Lunar Outpost |publisher=Library of Congress |date=October 22, 2008 |access-date=2008-10-22 |archive-date=2016-07-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160704213213/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:H.R.6063: |url-status=dead }}

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{{Portal|Spaceflight}}

• SELENE-2
• List of missions to the Moon
• Exploration of the Moon

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Wikinews|Japan's lunar probe performing 'smoothly' after successful launch}}

• {{in lang|en}} [http://www.selene.jaxa.jp/index_e.htm Official project site], JAXA
• {{in lang|en}} [http://www.jaxa.jp/countdown/f13/index_e.html Official launch information site], JAXA
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20041103152540/http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/profile.cfm?MCode=SELENE SELENE Mission Profile] by [http://solarsystem.nasa.gov NASA's Solar System Exploration]
• {{in lang|en}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20091014064642/http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/e/enterp/missions/kaguya/index.shtml SELENE overview], ISAS/JAXA
• {{in lang|en}} [https://www.youtube.com/user/jaxachannel#grid/user/DA9C6AA8E11F7E56 Official YouTube channel], JAXA
• {{in lang|en}} [http://ltvt.wikispaces.com/Kaguya+Impact June 10th impact location] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130718094036/http://ltvt.wikispaces.com/Kaguya+Impact |date=2013-07-18 }}
• {{in lang|en}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20090503174720/http://www.nec.com/global/solutions/space/satellite_systems/kaguya.html NEC Corporation's Kaguya page], NEC Corporation
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100108120541/http://wms.selene.jaxa.jp/selene_viewer/en/observation_mission/tc/037/tc_037_last_operation.html JAXA Link] – Video 12 min. before impact – close surface flyover

{{Moon spacecraft}}

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{{Orbital launches in 2007}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Selene}}

Category:Missions to the Moon

Category:Japanese space probes

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Category:Space probes launched in 2007

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Category:Spacecraft launched by H-II rockets

Category:2009 on the Moon