The Kaguya (selene) Mission and Its Lunar Science

Introduction: Japanese lunar orbiter Kaguya (SELENE) has been successfully launched from Tanagashima Space Center TKSC on September 14, 2007. On October 4 the Kaguya has been inserted into large elliptical orbit circulating the Moon. After lowering the apolune altitudes the Kaguya has reached the nominal observation orbit with 100 km circular and polar on October 19. On the way to nominal orbit two subsatellites Okina (Rstar) and Ouna (Vstar) have been released into the elliptical orbits of 100 km perilune, and 2400 km and 800 km apolune, respectively. After the checkout of bus system, the extension of four sounder antennas with 15 m length and the 12 m mast for magnetometer, and deployment of plasma imager nominal observation term for ten months has been started on December 20. On October 31, 2008 the nominal observation had been completed through successful operation of deep lunar eclipse and orbital control. Since November 1, 2008 the mission is extended using saved fuel.