Japan's satellite reaches lunar orbit

http://english.pravda.ru/news/science/05-10-2007/98250-satellite-0

Japan's first satellite has successfully reached the orbit of the Moon Friday. The Japanese lunar probe has already earned the reputation of world's most ambitious moon mission after the U.S. Apollo project. The launch of the satellite put Japan ahead of India and China within the scope of the Asian space race.


The probe was successfully injected into orbit around the moon after completing a complicated navigational maneuver late Thursday, space agency officials said Friday. After gradually moving into a lower orbit, the probe is to conduct a year-long observational mission.

"We believe this is a big step," said project manager Yoshisada Takizawa. "Everything is going well and we are confident."

Though four years off schedule, the mission comes at a crucial time for Japan.

China is expected to launch its own moon probe by the end of the year, and India is to follow with an unmanned lunar mission in 2008.

Japanese officials claim the 32-billion yen (US$279 million; EUR 201 million) Selenological and Engineering Explorer - or SELENE - is the largest lunar mission since the U.S. Apollo program in terms of overall scope and ambition, outpacing the former Soviet Union's Luna program and NASA's Clementine and Lunar Prospector projects.

The mission involves placing the main satellite - called "Kaguya," after a legendary moon princess - in a circular orbit at an altitude of about 100 kilometers (60 miles) and deploying two smaller satellites in elliptical orbits, according to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA.

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Maybe we can get a close up of the US flag up there
:patriot:

If only we could be as serious about dealing with the moon as they are!

India and Japan have now moved into the space race

It makes total sense why the NWO hurries to gain control of the world

I just am amazed how Congress just sits back and watches America fall behind in the space race