JAXA Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency

	Japan’s first full-fledged lunar exploration satellite, LUNAR-A, will investigate the mysteries of the origins of the Moon. LUNAR-A, will conduct Japan’s first full-fledged lunar mission. When it comes to lunar exploration, most people think about the missions conducted by the United States and the former Soviet Union. But those countries conducted only geographical research, mainly targeting the configuration of the lunar surface and rocks. LUNAR-A will directly investigate the interior of the Moon, which could provide a lot of data on the Moon’s origin and evolution. The Apollo mission conducted by the United States made a soft landing on the Moon’s surface, in order to cause as little damage as possible to the probe vehicle. LUNAR-A, on the other hand, is an unmanned probe, and will make a relatively hard landing, which means that the deceleration rocket and the control system can be smaller, allowing for a smaller probe vehicle.

Japan’s first full-fledged lunar exploration satellite, LUNAR-A, will investigate the mysteries of the origins of the Moon.

LUNAR-A, will conduct Japan’s first full-fledged lunar mission. When it comes to lunar exploration, most people think about the missions conducted by the United States and the former Soviet Union. But those countries conducted only geographical research, mainly targeting the configuration of the lunar surface and rocks. LUNAR-A will directly investigate the interior of the Moon, which could provide a lot of data on the Moon’s origin and evolution.
The Apollo mission conducted by the United States made a soft landing on the Moon’s surface, in order to cause as little damage as possible to the probe vehicle. LUNAR-A, on the other hand, is an unmanned probe, and will make a relatively hard landing, which means that the deceleration rocket and the control system can be smaller, allowing for a smaller probe vehicle.

Characteristics of Lunar Exploration Satellite "LUNAR-A"

Observation devices will separate from the probe and investigate the internal structure of the moon. The mother ship will photograph the lunar surface.

The Moon’s interior will be probed by a device called a penetrator. Penetrators are contained in a spear-shaped case, which is 80 cm long, with a diameter of 16 cm. LUNAR-A will release two penetrators, which will hit the lunar surface and penetrate to the depth of about two meters. The penetrators are equipped with seismometers and heat-flow probes, and will investigate the lunar interior for about one year. The LUNAR-A mother ship will orbit the Moon and gather information sent from the penetrators, while photographing the lunar surface with its camera. This camera will gather geographical information, and also technical information on optical navigation, which will make future exploration of the Moon much easier.

The Moon’s interior will be probed by a device called a penetrator. Penetrators are contained in a spear-shaped case, which is 80 cm long, with a diameter of 16 cm. LUNAR-A will release two penetrators, which will hit the lunar surface and penetrate to the depth of about two meters. The penetrators are equipped with seismometers and heat-flow probes, and will investigate the lunar interior for about one year. The LUNAR-A mother ship will orbit the Moon and gather information sent from the penetrators, while photographing the lunar surface with its camera. This camera will gather geographical information, and also technical information on optical navigation, which will make future exploration of the Moon much easier.

Pamphlet

Lunar Explorer LUNAR-A(1.8MB)

Reference

JAXA Explore to Realize

About JAXA

Missions

Global Activities

Topics in Your Area
- Asia
- Middle East
- Africa
- Oceania
- Central and South America
- Russia CIS
- Europe
- North America
- Global

PAGE TOP