SELENE

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SELENE, also known as Kaguya, was Japan’s second lunar orbiter. Built by ISAS and NASDA, it launched on September 14, 2007, from Tanegashima Space Center on an H-IIA rocket. The mission included a main orbiter and two small satellites, Okina and Ouna, to study the Moon’s gravity, composition, and history. The spacecraft weighed about 3,020 kilograms at launch; the main orbiter was about 2,914 kg and the two sub-satellites about 53 kg each.

Key facts:
- Orbital configuration: polar lunar orbits to map the farside gravity and surface.
- In total 13 science instruments, including X-ray and gamma-ray spectrometers, imaging cameras, a radar sounder, a laser altimeter, a magnetometer, plasma sensors, and radio science equipment; plus HDTV cameras for public outreach.
- Relay and VLBI satellites Okina and Ouna helped communicate with Earth and measure gravity.

The mission lasted about 1 year and 9 months. After completing its primary science goals, the main orbiter was directed to impact the Moon near Gill crater on June 10, 2009. The mission carried a public outreach campaign, Wish Upon the Moon, which printed more than 400,000 names on a sheet aboard the spacecraft. SELENE marked the largest lunar mission since Apollo and helped renew international interest in returning to the Moon.