By Agence France-Presse
TOKYO–Japan’s first lunar probe successfully entered the moon’s orbit on the most extensive mission there since the US Apollo program, officials said Friday.
The Kaguya probe, which was launched last month on a domestically developed rocket, appears to be functioning normally, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) said.
“We have confirmed that the satellite’s condition is normal,” it added.
The lunar orbiter, aiming to collect data for research on the moon’s origin and evolution, will orbit 100 kilometers (60 miles) above the moon.
Japan has been expanding its space operations and has set a goal of sending an astronaut to the moon by 2020 in the hopes of restoring pride in its troubled space program.
It faced an embarrassing failure in November 2003, when it had to destroy a rocket carrying a spy satellite 10 minutes after lift-off because a booster failed to separate.
The setback came just a month after neighboring China became the third country to carry out a manned space mission. China is pressing ahead with a program that includes space walks and dockings.
With the lunar orbiter, Japan hopes to keep the country one step ahead of China and other regional rivals like India, which are also expected to launch similar probes in coming months.
